Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Diamond-backs (Plutellidae) and Fanners (Glyphipterigidae)

DIAMOND-BACKS (PLUTELLIDAE)


Diamond-back Plutella xylostella - Totals of 122 recorded in my garden over 56 nights between 22nd April and 24th November 2019 and 105 over 51 nights between 21st May and 13th December 2020.  Only one night scraped into double figures - 10 on 16th August 2020.  These were slightly higher totals than in 2018 and much more than 2015 and 2017, but a long way short of the 2016 influx year when I caught over a thousand.  Elsewhere a total of 26 seen at the meadows, 3 next door, 5 at Weybourne, 3 at Burnham Overy and singles at County School, Bintree Wood, Swanton Great Wood, Row Heath, Brancaster and Tresidder (Cornwall).

Diamond-back Plutella xytlostella, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella - 2019 was an excellent year for this species with 8 recorded at home between 16th May and 4th August, plus one at Laura's in Hellesdon.  I'd only ever seen 8 before, although that includes 1-2 here most years since moving in in 2014.  2020 was back to normal with just one on 26th May.

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Bitter-cress Diamond-back Eidophasia messingiella - None.  I've only ever seen one of these and it wasn't round here.  It could occur nearby - it's pretty widespread if a little scarce.

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FANNERS (GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE)


Reed Fanner Orthotelia sparganella - I had only ever seen this species in the Broads and thought of it as being an exclusively Broadland species.  In fact there are a scattering of records elsewhere in the county so perhaps it shouldn't have been as much of a surprise as it was when I caught one at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Reed Fanner Orthotelia sparganella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Speckled Fanner Glyphipterix thrasonella - None.  I've found this species at 3 sites around Norfolk but never close to home.


Plain Fanner Glyphipterix fuscoviridella - None.  This species is very common at Burnham Overy and I've seen lower numbers at a few other sites in the Brecks or NW Norfolk, but I haven't found it near here yet.  There are a few records in central Norfolk so it wouldn't be very unexpected.


Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpiciella - Despite being one of our most abundant moths this species doesn't seem to come to light and was absent from my garden list until 2019.  This gap was closed on 2nd June 2019 when one was attracted to the Yellow-legged Clearwing pheremone lure.  Mostly seen at the meadows where recorded between 12th and 25th May 2019 and 8th and 27th May 2020 with up to 45 counted in a day (I'm sure a more careful count would have revealed far more than this).

Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella, North Elmham, 2nd June 2019

Bog-rush Fanner Glyphipterix schoenicolella - None.  Although very unexpected, this is the only member of the family to have come to light here in my garden.  It was a long way from any other records of this species and also a fair way from anywhere its foodplant grows so far as I know, so I don't have high hopes for a repeat.


Leek Moth Acrolepiopsis assectella - None.  Of all the species that hasn't turned up here at North Elmham yet, I think this is the one that I saw at my last house in Bawdeswell the most.  I had 9 there (without a proper trap) between 2010 and 2013 so I feel very overdue one here in North Elmham.


Bittersweet Fanner Acrolepiopsis autumnitella - None.  I've only seen one of these here, in 2015.


Next page: Argyresthiidae

Ox-tongue Conch and Yarrow Plume

There were two new moths for the garden on 8th July - Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana and Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla.  The molliculana was only my second anywhere and it was interesting to compare the plume with the similar (but rarer) Tansy Plume Gillmeria ochrodactyla that I added to the garden list just 3 nights before.

Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana, North Elmham, 8th July

Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla, North Elmham, 8th July

New for the year here were Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella (not annual here), Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis (only my second here), 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Dark Umber and 2 Ruby Tigers.

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella, North Elmham, 8th July

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, North Elmham, 8th July

Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, North Elmham, 8th July

Dark Umber, North Elmham, 8th July

The rest of the 98 species were 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, 5 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 4 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, 5 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 17 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, 11 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis,  Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Leopard Moth, Common Emerald, Small Emerald, Small Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 13 Single-dotted Waves, 10 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 5 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, Peppered Moth, 3 Engraileds, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Brown-tails, 3 Yellow-tails, 8 Rosy Footmen, 4 Dingy Footmen, 72 Common Footmen, 9 Buff Ermines, 2 Short-cloaked Moths, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Rustics, 28 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 2 Mottled Rustics, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and 2 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies consisted of Athripsodes aterrimus (new for the year) and 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula; there was a Common Earwig, and beetles included Hydrobius fuscipes (new for the garden) and Lagria hirta.

The following day I found a Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella and then overnight there were 102 species including the following additions to the garden year-list: Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Dun-bar, Light Arches, 2 Lesser Common Rustics and Dusky Sallow.

Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, North Elmham, 9th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 9th July

Light Arches, North Elmham, 9th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 9th July

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 9th July

The others were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 2 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Acleris laterana agg., 8 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 4 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 26 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 13 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, 2 Chinese Characters, Buff Arches, Lesser Cream Wave, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 11 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 14 Riband Waves, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, V-Pug, 6 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, 3 Poplar Hawk-moths, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 13 Rosy Footmen, 10 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 72 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 6 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 5 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, 8 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, 42 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Mottled Rustics, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 5 Snouts and 3 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies included 3 Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus flavicornis.  The click beetle Stenagostus rhombeus was new for the year while other beetles were Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva and Lagria hirta.

Stenogastus rhombeus, North Elmham, 9th July

Alder Signal

After a great night on 7th July the following night was dire - chalk and cheese with 118 species one night and just 29 the next.  Despite the poor showing I managed two new for the year: Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis and Ear Moth.

Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, North Elmham, 8th July

Ear Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th July

The others were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 15 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Lesser Cream Wave, Small Fan-footed Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, 6 Single-dotted Waves, Yellow Shell, 2 Early Thorns, Willow Beauty, 4 Dingy Footmen, 29 Common Footmen, 8 Buff Ermines, 8 Smoky Wainscots, Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, 18 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Mottled Rustic and Nut-tree Tussock.

Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, North Elmham, 8th July

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th July

It wasn't all bad - I managed to identify a new beetle, the water beetle Ilybius fuliginosus.  Also the soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus.

Ilybius fuliginosus, North Elmham, 8th July

Next morning this Common Darter was perched on the buddleia, my first here this year.

Common Darter, North Elmham, 9th July

The moths were back on form that night topping 100 species again.  My second ever Alder Signal Stathmopoda pedella was the highlight.

Alder Signal Stathmopoda pedella, North Elmham, 9th July

Also new for the year were Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salaciella, Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, Grey-streaked Smudge Plutella porrectella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, 2 White-triangle Buttons Acleris holmiana, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella and Ruby Tiger.

Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salaciella, North Elmham, 9th July

Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 9th July

Grey-streaked Smudge Plutella porrectella, North Elmham, 9th July

Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, North Elmham, 9th July

White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, North Elmham, 9th July

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham, 9th July

Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella, North Elmham, 9th July

Ruby Tiger, North Elmham, 9th July

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Fulvous Clothes Moth Tinea semifulvella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 28 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, New Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, probable Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Rusty Oak Buttons Acleris ferrugana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 2 Bud Moths Spilonota ocellana, 50 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 3 Yellow Satin Veneers Crambus perlella, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 17 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis and Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella.

Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 9th July

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 9th July

The macros were 2 Chinese Characters, Small Emerald, 8 Blood-veins, 2 Lesser Cream Waves, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Riband Waves, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, Yellow Shell, 2 Barred Straws, Brown Scallop, Green Pug, 3 Small Yellow Waves, 3 Brimstone Moths, 2 Early Thorns, 4 Scalloped Oaks, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, 3 Clouded Silvers, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, 7 Rosy Footmen, 25 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 28 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 7 Double Square-spots, 4 Nutmegs, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, Light Arches, Slender Brindle, Rufous Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, 20 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Marbled White Spot, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Straw Dots, Snout, 4 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Mayflies were represented by 2 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita.  The green lacewings were Cunctochrysa albolineata and Dichochrysa flavifrons.

A good variety of caddisflies included my first Oxyethira falcata.  Also 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, Agrypnia pagetana, Limnephilus lunatus, Athripsodes aterrimus and Ceraclea dissimilis.

Oxyethira falcata (female), North Elmham, 9th July

Beetles consisted of Brown Chafer, Rhygonycha fulva, Orange Ladybird and Lagria hirta.  There was the leafhopper Ianus lanio while other bugs consisted of 2 Stenotus binotatus and another Macrotylus solitarius - my third this summer of this species that had only been recorded in Norfolk once before.

Macrotylus solitarius, North Elmham, 9th July