Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 2: Mochas and Carpets I (Cyclophora to Camptogramma)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE)


Birch Mocha Cyclophora albipunctata - None.  I've only recorded this species here once, in 2018.


Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria - 9 recorded here between 22nd April (my earliest ever) and 8th August 2019 - an average total.  Only 4 in 2020, between 17th May and 12th August.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 22nd August 2019 and my highest count ever, 4 at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 22nd April 2019

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 18th May 2020

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia - None at home - I've had 3 here since moving in in August 2014.  Elsewhere one Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019.  None in 2020.

Clay Triple-lines, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Vestal Rhodometra sacraria - None.  I've only ever caught one of these fantastic migrant moths here, or indeed anywhere in Norfolk - in the good Vestal year of 2017.


Oblique Striped Phibalapteryx virgata - None.  In Norfolk this species is mainly known from the Brecks but there are a scattering of records through central Norfolk so it may turn up here someday.


July Belle Scotopteryx luridata - None.  The two we had at the Norfolk Moth Survey event at Hockering Wood in 2012 appear to be the nearest anyone has found this species so perhaps my chances of finding one locally aren't all that high.


Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata - Totals of 13 at home between 18th and 30th July 2019 and 14 between 2nd July and 14th August 2020 - I average considerably more a year (22).  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows and recorded at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and Foxley Wood on 17th August 2019.

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata - None.  In Norfolk this species is mainly known from the Broads but I've recorded it twice here, in 2016 and 2018.


Gem Nycterosea obstipata - None.  I never do well for migrants here but even so, this species is becoming a bit of a bogey-moth for me, having not yet found one anywhere.


Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata - Totals of 24 here between 24th April and 6th September 2019 and 17 between 27th April and 9th November 2020 - I average 25 a year and 2020 was my worst year here so far (but the record on 9th November was my latest ever in Norfolk by 24 days).  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows and one at Whitwell Street.

Garden Carpet, North Elmham, 24th April 2019

Garden Carpet, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Balsam Carpet Xanthorhoe biriviata - None.  Although there are a handful of records of this mainly Broadland species in or around the Wensum Valley, I'd have to be quite lucky to get one round here.


Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia - At least 21 here between 2nd May and 8th August 2019.  I didn't count them on 5 nights but I only had singles on the nights around this period where I did count, so the true total probably wasn't much higher than 21.  In any event it was by far my worst year ever for this species which had been averaging at 64 a year over the previous 4 years.  2020 was better but still worse than the previous years, with 41 between 18th May and 14th August.  Elsewhere 1-2 at the meadows on 7 nights, one at Bintree Wood, one at Sculthorpe Moor and 2 at Hills and Holes.  To ensure that I am identifying these and Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets correctly I usually select a small number to dissect, particularly from among those showing at least one character associated with the other species, such as a darker-than-normal bar.  Excepting very worn individuals my provisional ID almost invariably turns out to be correct so I don't think this is as challenging a duo as some sources have suggested in the past.

Red Twin-spot Carpets, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019 (the top one a confirmed male)

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata - At least 35 here between 25th April and 3rd September 2019.  I didn't count them on 2 nights but I only had 1-2 on the nights around these dates, so the true total won't have been much higher than 35.  This was a fairly typical showing for this species, but it was the first time that numbers of this species exceeded the number of Red Twin-spot Carpets.  Only 14 in 2020, between 8th May and 16th August.  Elsewhere a couple next door, singles at the meadows on 7 nights and 3 at Sculthorpe Moor.  Given that fairly recently this species was thought to be heavily over-recorded and a lot rarer than the number of records suggested (due to confusion with dark-barred examples of Red Twin-spot Carpet) I confirmed nearly all of my records for a number of years.  With a negligible error rate I've stopped doing this now, but still check a small selection to make sure (including all of those shown below).  It's probably not a coincidence that the reddest-barred individuals I've caught and confirmed have been worn specimens.

male Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 26th April 2019

male Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 8th May 2019

female Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

male Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

male Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 3rd September 2019

male Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata - 2019 was my worst year yet with just 2 recorded in my garden, on 25th and 30th May.  Previous annual totals have ranged from 5 to 14 and there were 6 in 2020, between 31st July and 17th September.  Elsewhere one at Sculthorpe Moor and 2 on Mull.

Flame Carpet, Sculthorpe Moor, 26th April 2019

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Flame Carpet, Carsaig (Mull), 10th June 2019

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata - Totals of 49 caught at home between 19th May and 23rd June 2019 and 41 between 17th May and 15th June 2020.  These were my lowest total so far, though not be a long way - I've averaged 60 a year here.  Elsewhere 13 at the meadows, 2 at Hills and Holes, one at Keswick and 7 at various sites on Mull.

Silver-ground Carpet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th May 2019

Silver-ground Carpets, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata - My worst years for this species too, with 7 at home between 25th June and 24th July 2019 and just 2 in 2020, on 15th July and 2nd August.  I had been averaging around 20 a year.  Elsewhere one at the meadows, singles at Bintree Wood, Hellesdon and Weybourne.

Large Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 25th June 2019

Large Twin-spot Carpet, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Rotal Mantle Catarhoe cuculata - None.  This species is mainly recorded in Norfolk in the Brecks and NW Norfolk but there are a couple of records from the Wensum Valley so maybe I'll get one locally one day.


Ruddy Carpet Catarhoe rubidata - None.  I've never seen this species but there have been a handful of recent records not all that far away from here so I'm optimistic.


Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata - 13 recorded at home between 29th June and 25th August 2019 and 9 between 12th June and 17th August 2020.  I average 13-14 here.  A total of 36 seen at the meadows, often during the day, plus 2 at the allotment and singles at Bintree Wood, Swanton Great Wood, Whitwell Street and on Mull.

Yellow Shell, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th May 2019

Yellow Shell, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th June 2019

Yellow Shell, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

Yellow Shell, North Elmham, 12th June 2020

Next page: more Geometridae

Magpie and Canary

Monday 10th July was another poor night with just 35 moth species, none of which were new for the year.  They were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 Blood-veins, Small Fan-footed Wave, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, Engrailed, Common Wave, 2 Pale Prominents, 2 Yellow-tails, 14 Dingy Footmen, 16 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Double Square-spots, Brown-line Bright Eye, Smoky Wainscot, Dusky Sallow, 16 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock and Fan-foot.

Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, North Elmham, 10th July

Double-striped Tabby Hypospygia glaucinalis, North Elmham, 10th July

Other insects included the mayfly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, the caddisfly Hydropsyche pellucidula, the water beetles Ilybius fuliginosus and Rhantus suturalis and a Brown Chafer.

There weren't many more species the following night but two were new for the year: Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana and Magpie Moth.

Magpie Moth, North Elmham, 11th July

The other moths that night were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 18 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Emerald, Small Blood-vein, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, 10 Single-dotted Waves, 9 Riband Waves, Shaded Broad-bar, Sharp-angled Carpet, V-Pug, Willow Beauty, Engrailed, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, 2 Rosy Footmen, 26 Dingy Footmen, 18 Common Footmen, Large Yellow Underwing, Bright-line Brown-eye, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 8 Uncertains, 4 Rustics and 2 Fan-foots.  Other insects were 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, a Hydropsyche pellucidula and a Brown Chafer.

Next day there was a Comma in the garden and a Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis inside the house.  That evening was very poor for moths with just Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Scalloped Oaks, Willow Beauty, 3 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Uncertains and 3 Rustics.

The following night was a considerable improvement with Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula, Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata and Canary-shouldered Thorn all new for the year.

Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, North Elmham, 13th July

Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 13th July

Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula (male, gen det), North Elmham, 13th July

Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella, North Elmham, 13th July

Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, North Elmham, 13th July

Canary-shouldered Thorn, North Elmham, 13th July

Other moths that night were 10 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, New Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 25 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 8 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 9 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, Least Carpet, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 9 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Straw, Small Rivulet, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Clouded Silver, 3 Poplar Hawk-moths, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, 9 Rosy Footmen, 25 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 2 Buff Footmen, 16 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, 2 Double Square-spots, 2 Nutmegs, 2 Brown-line Bright Eyes, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 2 Slender Brindles, 2 Common Rustics (plus one Common Rustic agg.), 13 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Marbled White Spot, Nut-tree Tussock and 2 Fan-foots.  Also a Brown Chafer and the leafhopper Iassua lanio.

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 13th July

Eulamprotes atrella

A lunchtime wander round Syderstone Common on 18th July produced plenty of Ringlets and Meadow Browns, the odd Gatekeeper and Small Heath but few moths.  Just 1 Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella and 30 Cinnabar caterpillars.

A good selection of moths that night with 276 individuals of 100 species.  Only Two-spotted Neb Eulamprotes atrella was new for the garden.

Two-spotted Neb Eulamprotes atrella, North Elmham, 18th July

Several new for the garden year list though: Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Brown Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia inscriptella, 2 Chinese Characters, Shaded Broad-bar, Blue-bordered Carpet, 3 Round-winged Muslins and Dusky Sallow.

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 18th July

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 18th July

Blue-bordered Carpet, North Elmham, 18th July

Brown Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia inscriptella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th July

Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, North Elmham, 18th July

Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th July

Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th July

Other macros were Drinker, 2 Buff Arches, Large Emerald, 3 Common Emeralds, Small Emerald, Small Blood-vein, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, Phoenix, 2 Barred Straws, 2 Green Pugs, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, Lilac Beauty, 4 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, 2 Swallow-tailed Moths, Engrailed, Common White Wave, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, 3 Brown-tails, 4 Yellow-tails, 13 Rosy Footmen, 11 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 31 Common Footmen, 13 Buff Ermines, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Dot Moth, Clay, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Poplar Grey, Lesser Common Rustic, 14 Uncertains, Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Green Silver-lines, Nut-tree Tussock, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 18th July

Green Silver-lines, North Elmham, 18th July

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 18th July

Small Blood-vein, North Elmham, 18th July

Other micros were 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 8 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, 2 White-foot Bells Epiblema foenella, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, 13 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 4 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

White-foot Bell Epiblema foenella, North Elmham, 18th July

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 18th July

Other life forms included no less than 4 Green Drakes Ephemera danica (Mayflies) and a variety of caddisflies: Hydropsyche siltalai, Phryganea grandis, Goera pilosa, 2 Athripsodes aterrimus and Mystacides longicornis.

Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 18th July

Athripsodes aterrimus, North Elmham, 18th July