Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Prominents and allies (Notodontidae) - part 1: Kittens, Lobster and Marbled Browns

PROMINENTS, KITTENS and allies (NOTODONTIDAE)


Puss Moth Cerura vinula - One to light at Ceann Chnocain on Mull on 13th June 2019 - a fairly worn greyed example that was almost camouflage as it was spreadeagled on the grey gravelly ground (having arrived unnoticed).  I've had this species in my garden 3 times (2015-16) but hadn't seen it anywhere for 3 years.  None in 2020.

Puss Moth, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula - One next door on 8th August 2019 but none in my own garden in either year.  They weren't the first years I've gone without but I've had 7 here since moving in in August 2014.  Elsewhere 2 at Sculthorpe Moor on 26th April 2019 and one at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.

Sallow Kitten, Sculthorpe Moor, 26th April 2019

Sallow Kitten, Bintree Wood, 24th July 2020

Alder Kitten Furcula bicuspis - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was only my third ever.  None in 2020.  I've not found this species locally yet but there are a few records so only a matter of time before I do (I hope).

Alder Kitten, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida - None.  I've recorded this species at home in 2015 and 2016 but not since.


Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi - None in 2019 and in 2020 just one at Bintree Wood on 13th June.  I've recorded this species at home 3 times but not since 2016.  It's unusual that I don't see one anywhere though.

Lobster Moth, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Marbled Brown Drymonia dodonaea - 2 trapped in the garden, on 25th May and 19th June 2019 and 3 between 7th and 19th June 2020.  I average 5 a year here - 2019 was my equal-worst year.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 23rd June 2019 and on the same date in 2020, and 3 at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020.

Marbled Brown, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Marbled Brown, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Marbled Brown, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Marbled Brown, North Elmham, 19th June 2020

Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia dodonaea - 7 caught in the garden between 22nd April and 6th May 2019, my best year here (following 3 in 2018, one in 2017 and none in 2015 or 2016).  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows on 22nd April 2019 and 2 at Sculthorpe Moor on 26th April 2019.  I wondered if these increasing numbers were part of a long-term upward trend or a crest of a short-term peak, but the complete absence of any Lunar Marbled Browns at home, the meadows or anywhere else in 2020 proved it was the latter.  A shame as I rather like this species.

Lunar Marbled Browns, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Lunar Marbled Brown, North Elmham, 24th April 2019

Next page: more Notodontidae

Pigmy Footmen

On 30th July there was a Norfolk Moth Survey event at Queen's Hill (Costessey).  Normally I like to go to these events if I'm free, but on this occasion I had a competing offer.  Rob Lee was going to Winterton with Tim Hodge (and, as it turned out, Ryan Irvine) and that sounded like a better idea.  In the end I think I made the right decision as Queen's Hill didn't produce a huge amount, but then again Winterton was quite disappointing too.  Not all bad though, and the highlight for me was 3 Pigmy Footmen, a new species for me.

Pigmy Footmen, Winterton, 30th July (top two pics are the same individual)

Other highlights included Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, around 80 Long-legged Tabbies Synaphe punctalis and 3 Chevrons.  Heathland species that I don't see all that often included 2 Dusky Groundlings Aroga velocella, Heather Knot-horn Pempelia palumbella, 2 Narrow-winged Pugs, White-line Dart, 3 Archer's Darts and 12 True Lover's Knots.

Archer's Dart, Winterton, 30th July

Apart from that we also recorded 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 4 Barred Grass-veneers Agriphila inquinatella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 2 Drinkers, 2 Pebble Hook-tips, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 2 Peppered Moths, 3 Poplar Hawkmoths, Sallow Kitten, Lesser Swallow Prominent, 2 Swallow Prominents, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 3 Buff-tips, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, White Satin, 2 Black Arches, Rosy Footman, 8 Dingy Footmen, 8 Scarce Footmen, 3 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 4 Ruby Tigers, Flame Shoulder, 20 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Nutmeg, Bright-line Brown-eye, Antler Moth, Brown-line Bright-eye, 2 Clays, Southern Wainscot, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Dun-bar, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, Ear Moth, 2 Uncertains and Straw Dot - and Brown Chafer.

Sallow Kitten, Winterton, 30th July

Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Winterton, 30th July

Back at home my first Canary-shouldered Thorn of the year was a reminder that we're past the mothing season's peak and heading fast towards autumn.

Canary-shouldered Thorn, North Elmham, 30th July

Also new for the year were Tawny Speckled Pug, Magpie Moth and Flounced Rustic.

Magpie Moth, North Elmham, 30th July

Flounced Rustic, North Elmham, 30th July

Other macros were Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 12 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, Double-striped Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Border, Early Thorn, 2 Purple Thorns, 5 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Yellow-tails, 20 Dingy Footmen, 12 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 46 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 3 Ruby Tigers, Heart and Dart, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright-eye, 3 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 7 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 7 Common Rustics, 2 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth, 16 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 7 Nut-tree Tussocks, Herald and Straw Dot.

Nothing of much note among the micros which were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 21 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis and 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis. Also another Brown Chafer.

Having Kittens

Not one but 2 Sallow Kittens were among the catch on 9th August.

Sallow Kitten, North Elmham, 9th August

Three more were new for the year for the garden: Rivulet, Yellow-barred Brindle and Broad-blotched Drill Dichrorampha alpinana.

 Broad-blotched Bell Dichrorampha alpinana, North Elmham, 9th August

Rivulet, North Elmham, 9th August

By now the midsummer peak of moth activity is already well past and nearly 300 moths of 88 species was a respectable enough total for second week of August, if well short of the best nights in July.  Nothing much to say about the rest though, so here's a list: Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 Dark Groundlings Bryotropha affinis, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, 2 Small Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis heparana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 39 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 54 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 21 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Pebble Hook-tips, Small Fan-footed Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, 8 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 14 Riband Waves, 5 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, Clouded Silver, Lesser Swallow Prominent, 2 Swallow Prominents, Yellow-tail, 2 Rosy Footmen, 9 Dingy Footmen, 8 Scarce Footmen, 6 Common Footmen, Cinnabar, Heart and Dart, 5 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 4 Flame Shoulders, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 7 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Double Square-spot, Six-striped Rustic, Nutmeg, Lychnis, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Straw Underwings, 3 Dun-bars, 4 Dark Arches, Common Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, 3 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth and 4 Uncertains (plus an Uncertain or Rustic), Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.