Review of 2019 and 2020 - Bugs: Plant bugs - part 3: Mirini II (Pantilius to Stenotus)

PLANT BUGS (MIRIDAE) (continued)


Tribe MIRINI (continued)


Pantilius tunicatus - One of these most marvellous of mirids in my moth trap on 4th October 2019, the fourth consecutive year I have caught one or two here.  So distinctive I didn't feel I needed to retain and photograph it, something I slightly regret now I'm writing about it, especially as I didn't catch one in 2020.


Phytocoris dimidiatus - One in my garden moth trap on 30th September 2020, my second here following one in 2018.

Phytocoris dimidiatus, North Elmham, 30th September 2020 - showing left clasper

Phytocoris longipennis - Singles in my garden moth trap on 27th July 2019 and 8th and 12th August 2020.  I've recorded 1-2 here in each of the last 4 years now.

Phytocoris longipennis, North Elmham, 27th July 2019

Phytocoris longipennis, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

Phytocoris longipennis, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Phytocoris tiliae - After a blank year in 2019 I caught 2 in the garden in 2020, on 19th August and 22nd September.  Also one landed on my hand at Brancaster on 18th September 2020.

Phytocoris tiliae, North Elmham, 19th August 2020

Phytocoris ulmi - 2 in my garden moth trap on 19th July 2019 and one on 15th July 2020.

Phytocoris ulmi, North Elmham, 19th July 2019

Phytocoris ulmi, North Elmham, 15th July 2020

Phytocoris varipes - Singles in my garden moth trap on 4 nights between 31st July and 21st August 2019.  Having only ever had singles before it was a surprise to kick the 2020 season off with 6 on 4th August, though after this night there were only singles on 3 more dates up to 19th August.  Also 6 swept from Ragwort at the meadows on 19th August.

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 21st August 2019

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August 2020

Pinalitus cervinus - Totals of 16 caught in my garden moth trap on 10 nights between 7th October and 26th November 2019 and 19 over 17 nights between 7th January and 1st November 2020.  They peaked at 5 on 14th October 2019 but I never caught more than 2 in a night in 2020.  Elsewhere one swept from Hornbeam at the meadows on 22nd September 2020 and 2 in Cornwall on 7th October 2020.  Some examples of this species can resemble Lygus species quite closely and in the past I've struggled to tell them apart.  I think I've figured it out now (size is pretty helpful - it took me a while to appreciate that) so hopefully there aren't any errors in this set of data.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 22nd November 2019

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 23rd September 2020

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 27th September 2020

Polymerus unifasciatus - One swept at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020.

Polymerus unifasciatus, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Striped Oak Bug Rhabdomiris striatellus - One came to light at the Cathedral Meadows on 25th May 2019 - a lovely bug!

Striped Oak Bug Rhabdomiris striatellus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Stenotus binotatus - Singles in my garden moth trap on 9th and 17th July 2019 and 2 here on 4th July 2020.  I've recorded this species here in each of the last 5 years.

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham, 4th July 2020

Next page: more Miridae

Hedgehog in the garden

I found this Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella in the house on Monday 24th July, my third in less than a year - not bad for a moth that was only twice recorded in Norfolk between 1874 and 2014!

Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th July

That night (a windy one) was poor for moths with just Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Timothy Tortrixes Aphelia paleana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 14 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Chequered Straws Evergestis pallidata, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 10 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 4 Common Footmen, Flame Shoulder, 2 Nutmegs, Dun-bar, 2 Uncertains, 3 Rustics and Nut-tree Tussock.

I did get a lifer though - a mayfly... Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus.

Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus, North Elmham, 24th July

Numerically it was a good night for mayflies but apart from the above there was no variety - just 13 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum.  Lacewings were represented by 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons and Caddisflies by Hydropsyche siltalai and 2 Limnephilus marmoratus.

The next night was even worse - just Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Large Emerald, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, 11 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Peppered Moth, 3 Pebble Prominents, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Large Yellow Underwing and Dun-bar. Well there were some nice moths there I suppose, if not many species.  No mayflies, lacewings, caddisflies, bugs or beetles.

Wednesday 26th July was a bit better.  It started off during the day with perhaps my highest number of different butterflies seen in the garden on any one day - Large White, Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood, all but the last courtesy of the buddleia.

That night produced the first new moths for the year for 5 nights (crumbs, that's bad in July!) - Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Pebble Hook-tip and Maple Pug.

Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, North Elmham, 26th July

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham, 26th July

Pebble Hook-tip, North Elmham, 26th July

Maple Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th July

Other moths were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 6 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana (f. ferrugana), Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 20 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Chinese Character, Least Carpet, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, 2 Lime-speck Pugs, Currant Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Pebble Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, 2 Ruby Tigers, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, Nutmeg, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Silver Y and Straw Dot.

A Turnip Sawfly was new for the garden and the bug Phytocoris varipes was new for the year.

Turnip Sawfly, North Elmham, 26th July

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 26th July

Other insects included 3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons (green lacewings), Hydropsyche siltalai and Limnephilus marmoratus (caddisflies).

Butterflies at Burnham Overy on 27th included 4 Brown Arguses, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Wall Brown.  There was also a Stoat.

I've been seeing frogs in the garden most nights this summer but on 28th there was a Common Toad for a change.  It was an absolutely dire night for moths with just Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Large Emerald, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character and 2 Rustics.  Also a Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella in the house.

Next day (Friday 28th) was a substantial improvement, though not exactly great for July.  There were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 13 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, 2 Least Carpets, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Small Rivulet, Magpie Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawk-moth, 2 Dingy Footmen, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Nutmeg, 3 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Common Rustic and 4 Straw Dots.

Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 28th July

There were also 5 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and a good selection of green lacewings: Chrysopa commata, 5 Chrysoperla carnea (2 confirmed males and 3 aggregate females), Cunctochrysa albolineata and 11 Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Also the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, 3 Forest Bugs and the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.  As I was emptying the moth trap I was delighted to have this Hedgehog visit me, the first time I've seen one in the garden (though I've heard them before).  It soon shuffled off again when I started trying to take its picture.

Hedgehog, North Elmham, 28th July

Gorse Groundling

After a couple of poor nights 10th August picked up just a little bit.  Only one new for the year: a Square-spotted Clay.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 10th August

Other macros were Large Emerald, Small Fan-footed Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, 3 Common Carpets, Yellow-barred Brindle, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Black Arches, Dingy Footman, 2 Flame Shoulders, 15 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Least Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Clay, 2 Straw Underwings, Dun-bar, 5 Common Rustics, 5 Lesser Common Rustics and 2 Straw Dots.

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th August

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th August

The micros consisted of Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 5 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 7 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 5 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis and Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella.

11th August was better with over 150 moths of 66 species, the best being Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella, new for the house and my third anywhere.

Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella, North Elmham, 11th August

New for the year on 11th were Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Svensson's Copper Underwing and Rosy Rustic.

Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th August

Svensson's Copper Underwing (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th August

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 11th August

Other micros that night were New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella, Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 13 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 11 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 8 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The other macros were 2 Orange Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, Small Blood-vein, 6 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Common Carpet, 4 Small Rivulets, Maple Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 2 Dusky Thorns, Scalloped Oak, 2 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, 2 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Yellow-tail, Black Arches, 4 Dingy Footmen, Buff Ermine, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 10 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, Small Rufous, Nut-tree Tussock and 9 Straw Dots.

Lacewings consisted of Chrysoperla carnea and Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Bugs included 3 Forest Bugs (Red-legged shieldbugs) and a Phytocoris varipes.

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 11th August

Another Clouded Magpie and a couple of new hoppers

Among the moths trapped on the night of 2nd August were four new species of the year: 2 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis corylana, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and White-spotted Pug.

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, North Elmham, 2nd August

Rush Veneer Nomophila nocutella, North Elmham, 2nd August

White-spotted Pug, North Elmham, 2nd August

As well as the Rush Veneer, migrants included 13 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella.  26 Mother of Pearls (or should that be Mothers of Pearl?) Pleuroptya ruralis was the highest count of the year. 

There were two more unidentifiable Ermines Yponomeuta sp. (Orchard padella, Apple malinellus or Spindle cagnagella) - frustrating not to be able to name these but they can't even be done by checking their genitalia.

Orchard/Apple/Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, North Elmham, 2nd August

Another species I don't see here very often was Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella.

Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, North Elmham, 2nd August

A reasonable selection of other micros too: Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 4 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 3 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 38 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 4 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella and Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella.

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 2nd August

Another Clouded Magpie was the best macro.

Clouded Magpie, North Elmham, 2nd August

Unusually all the Common Rustic aggs. that were dissected proved to be Lesser Common Rustics (3 - a fourth got away without being determined).

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 2nd August

Other macros were 4 Pebble Hook-tips, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 4 Shaded Broad-bars, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Small Rivulets, Tawny Speckled Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, 2 Magpie Moths, Scalloped Oak, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Yellow-tail, 2 Rosy Footmen, 4 Dingy Footmen, 7 Scarce Footmen, 3 Buff Footmen, 12 Common Footmen, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, 3 Nutmegs, 3 Clays, Grey Dagger, 3 Dun-bars, 7 Dark Arches, Dusky Sallow, 11 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Spectacle, 7 Straw Dots and 2 Fan-foots.

Among the Green Lacewings, Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the house (though I'd seen one next door when I trapped there recently).  Also Dichochrysa flavifrons and Chrysoperla carnea agg.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 2nd August

I'm not doing the caddisflies while I'm so far behind with the moths but a Glyphotaelius pellucidus was readily identified in the field.  Among the bugs there were 3 Forest Bugs (aka Red-legged Shieldbugs) and my first Phytocoris varipes of the year.

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 2nd August

Also a couple of new hoppers that I'd not identified before (I thought I had seen the first one before but don't have any records) - Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius and the leafhopper Eupteryx florida.

Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius, North Elmham, 2nd August

Eupteryx florida, North Elmham, 2nd August

I haven't yet managed to work out what this Ichneumon was:

unidentified Ichneumon wasp, North Elmham, 2nd August