Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 8: Marbles II and Rollers etc. (Endothenia to Spilonota))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Teasel Marble Endothenia gentianaeana - None.  I've only seen one of these, in my garden in 2015. 


Downland Marble Endothenia oblongana - None caught by me though I did confirm 3 that were caught by Geoff Turner at Weybourne during the week before I visited in July 2019 and one caught by Dave at Toftwood (Dereham) in August 2020.  I've not had this in North Elmham yet but there's plenty of Ribwort Plantain and Common Knapweed at the meadows so I must have a really good chance of finding it locally.  I had one at Creaking Gate Lake (Bittering) once so not all that far away.

2 male and 1 female Downland Marbles Endothenia oblongana, caught at Weybourne by Geoff Turner, 30th June-4th July 2019

male Downland Marbles Endothenia oblongana, caught at Toftwood (Dereham) by Dave Norgate, 7th August 2020

Bordered Marble Endothenia marginana - None confirmed.  Another one that could plausibly turn up here but I'm yet to find it anywhere.  However an Endothenia at Brancaster with Will and Sarah on 2nd July wasn't retained for checking and bearing in mind the abundance of this species' foodplant here there's a good chance it was this.


Woundwort Marble Endothenia pullana - None.  I know this occurs locally as I trapped one here in 2016 but that was the second for Norfolk (first post-Victorian) so they clearly aren't common.  There's a lot of Marsh Woundwort growing at the meadows though, so potential to find it there.


Bugle Marble Endothenia ustulana - One trapped in my garden on 23rd July 2019 was a completely new moth for me.

male Bugle Marble Endothenia ustulana, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Black-edged Marble Endothenia nigricostana - One at Hindolveston when I visited Marcus on 6th July 2020 (I think he pointed it out).  I've recorded this here (once, when it came to Yellow-legged Clearwing pheremone lure in 2017), at the meadows and at Rawhall.


Heath Marble Endothenia ericetana - One in the garden on 17th July 2019, my first since 3 here in 2015.

Heath Marble Endothenia ericetana, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana - 4 in the garden trap between 29th June and 20th August 2019, a fairly typical year.  Singles on 5th and 31st July 2020 was a bit below par.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 13th June 2020.

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th June 2020

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, North Elmham, 5th July 2020

Rush Marble Bactra lancealana - My worst 2 years on record here with just one in 2019, on 30th June, and 4 between 28th July and 10th August 2020.  I had 24 here in 2018 and averaged 17 a year between 2015 and 2018.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 25th May 2019, singles at Bintree Wood and Whitwell Street in 2020 and 6 near Carsaig on Mull in 2019.

female Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, North Elmham, 5th August 2020

Mottled Marble Bactra furfurana - One at the meadows on 26th July 2019.  None in 2020 and none at home where I'd had 1-2 in each of the previous 3 years.

Mottled Marble Bactra furfurana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Saltern Marble Bactra robustana - None.  Not particularly likely here but there are a few inland records so not out of the question.  I've dissected a number of apparent candidates for this species but they're nearly always something else.


Honeysuckle Bell Eucosmomorpha albersana - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's scarce it's widespread enough to think it might be lurking round here somewhere.


Cherry-bark Moth Enarmonia formosana - None.  I had 3 of these at home in 2015/16 but not since.


Bridge Roller Ancylis uncella - None.  Although there are no records from anywhere very close to here they occur commonly enough in the heaths a little way to the east and to the west, so I should think there's a fair chance once might wander over here.


Dark Roller Ancylis upupana - None.  I've never seen this species and it's not exactly common so perhaps a bit optimistic to hope for one round here, but it's a smart-looking thing so I shall be keeping an eye out for it.  There are patches of Birch woodland round here so maybe more chance of this than one or two of the slightly commoner but habitat-restricted species like Festooned Roller Ancylis geminana?


Common Roller Ancylis badiana - One at Carsaig on Mull on 10th June 2019.  In Norfolk it's not at all common away from the Brecks though I did have one at the meadows in 2018.

Common Roller Ancylis badiana, Carsaig (Mull), 10th June 2019

Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana - A total of 36 at home between 24th June and 23rd July 2019, my best year to date (though I've never gone below 21 in a year here).  2020 was good too with 34 between 16th June and 22nd July including a record count of 6 on 26th June.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and one at Hellesdon in 2019.

Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Red Roller Ancylis mitterbacheriana - None.  This is a pretty widespread species in Norfolk and I've had it as close as Bawdeswell Heath but so far I've not found it in North Elmham.


Lemon Bell Thiodia citrana - None.  Although this is described as being mainly Breckland there are quite a few records from elsewhere in Norfolk (including 2 I had in my last house at Bawdeswell) so I must be in with a decent chance of finding one locally before too long.


Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana - At least 30 in the garden between 4th July and 7th August 2019 (not counted every night), my best total to date though not all that far ahead of other years.  In contrast 15 between 26th June and 7th August 2020 was my worst showing so far.  Also recorded at the meadows, Weybourne and Swanton Great Wood, all in 2019.

Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

male Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, North Elmham, 29th July 2020

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana - 8 in the garden between 24th June and 16th August 2019 and another 8 between 5th July and 6th August 2020.  I've had between 8 and 12 here every year since 2015.  Elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

female Bud Moth Spilonota ocellama, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

male Bud Moth Spilonota ocellama, North Elmham, 5th July 2020

Larch-bud Moth Spilonota laricana - None.  I've only ever caught one of these here, in 2017.


Next page: more Tortricidae

The Italians are back

July kicked off with finding an Italian Tubic Metalampra italica (and a Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis) inside the house on 1st.  Then overnight there was a second Metalampra italica in the trap.  I'd had the second and third records for Norfolk in 2014 but although there have been quite a few more records elsewhere in the intervening years these were my first since then.

Italian Tubics Metalampra italica, North Elmham, 1st July

Other moths that were new for the year that night were White-speckled Clothes Moth Nemapogon koenigi, Orchard, Apple or Spindle Ermine agg. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Yellow-tail, Round-winged Muslin, Brown-line Bright Eye and Rufous Minor.

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 1st July

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, North Elmham, 1st July

Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, North Elmham, 1st July

Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, North Elmham, 1st July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 1st July

Rufous Minor (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Other highlights included Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella, Gold-sheen Clothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella and Rose Tortrix Archips rosana.

Other moths were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 4 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 22 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Ghost Moth, Common Emerald, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, 2 Common Pugs, V-Pug, 3 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, Early Thorn, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, 3 Engraileds, 3 Clouded Silvers, 2 Buff-tips, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 28 Common Footmen, 14 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Clubs, Flame Shoulder, 2 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Lychnis, 2 Common Wainscots, 4 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 14 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 6 Mottled Rustics, Beautiful Hook-tip and 5 Fan-foots.

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 1st July

Among the other insects a Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea was the first I've ever identified.

Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea, North Elmham, 1st July

Quite a few other things were new for the year including the green lacewing Cunctochrysa albolineata, the caddisfly Hydropsyche siltalai, the sexton beetle Nicrophorus investigator and the soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva.

Cunctochrysa albolineata, North Elmham, 1st July

Other inescts included the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus, the caddisflies Ecnomus tenellus and Leptocerus tineiformis, the soldier beetle Cantharis cryptica, Orange Ladybird and 2 Lagria hirta.

Two more trigeminella on the best night of the year?

I've just realised that the Black-blothched Marble Endothenia nigricostana that I posted about yesterday was my 750th species of moth in my garden - another milestone reached.  Reached, and galloped past the following night with another four new moths for the garden.

The night of Wednesday 21st June was probably the best night of the year with 325 moths of 114 species, though that's quite a long way short of the best few nights of 2016.  There were no lifers among the moths but as I say, four new for the house including one remarkable record.  The Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella wasn't a surprise addition to the garden list, with the next door neighbour having a large Ash tree in their garden, and other Ashes growing nearby.  Netted Argent Argyresthia retinella wasn't much of a surprise either.  A Fen Crest Brachmia inornatella was a little less expected being a reedbed species but what was a real surprise was 2 Scarce Thorn Case-bearers Coleophora trigeminella.  This is the moth which I recorded at Warham Greens five nights earlier, the second ever for Norfolk - so these were the third and fourth for Norfolk!

Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella, North Elmham, 21st June

Fen Crest Brachmia inornatella, North Elmham, 21st June

Scarce Thorn Case-bearers Coleophora trigeminella (males, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

Others new for the year here were Large Clothes Moth Morophaga choragella, Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella, 3 Bud Moths Spilonota ocellana, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Large Emerald, Least Carpet, 2 Shaded Pugs, Round-winged Muslin, Brown-line Bright Eye and Dingy Shears.

Large Clothes Moth Morophaga choragella, North Elmham, 21st June

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham, 21st June

Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, North Elmham, 21st June

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 21st June

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 21st June

3 Cnephasia sp. escaped and a very worn male Argyresthia was practically bare so couldn't be identified from external features.  So far I've been unable to match its genitalia to any species, though I can't find any images of male dilectella genitalia to compare it to (or a few of the rarer species).  The other micros were 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Burdock Nebs Metzneria lappella, 3 London Dowds Blastobasis lacticolella, 4 Buff Cosmets Mompha ochraceella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, 5 Hawthorn Cosmets Blastodacna hellerella, 6 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 9 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 8 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, 12 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, 3 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 23 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 10 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 4 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

dark form of Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham, 21st June

Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

The other macros were 2 Common Emeralds (including an exceptionally small individual), 3 Small Blood-veins, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 9 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 19 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, 2 Phoenixes, 3 Barred Straws, 2 Barred Yellows, Blue-bordered Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Currant Pug, Common Pug, 2 V-Pugs, 4 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, 2 Small Yellow Waves, Clouded Border, 2 Scorched Wings, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, 2 Engraileds, 4 Common White Waves, Common Wave, 6 Clouded Silvers, 3 Elephant Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 8 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Poplar Grey, 3 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 3 Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, 13 Uncertains, Marbled White Spot, Green Silver-lines, 5 Beautiful Hook-tips, 3 Straw Dots, 5 Snouts, 3 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 21st June

If the moths were good then the other insects were just as good!  So good in fact that I think I'll save them for another post!

Coleophora trifolii (Large Clover Case-bearer) next door

At lunch on 6th July I went to Courtyard Farm at Ringstead where highlights were Corn Bunting, Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle, 2 Yellow-spot Tortrixes Pseudargyrotoza conwagana and Painted Lady butterfly.

Nearly 200 moths of 76 species at home that night, the highlight being one of 3 Peppered Moths, a melanic individual of the form carbonaria.  I've seen a few dark examples but rarely one so solidly blackish as this.

Peppered Moth (f. carbonaria), North Elmham, 6th July

A tatty Brown Scallop and 2 Four-dotted Footmen were also good, both species commoner in the Brecks than elsewhere.

Brown Scallop, North Elmham, 6th July

Others new for the year were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata and Brown-line Bright-eye.

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, North Elmham, 6th July

Other macros were Buff Arches, 3 Common Emeralds, Small Emerald, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Treble Brown Spot, 7 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Yellow Shell, 5 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Grey Pug, 3 Green Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, 4 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, 2 Common White Waves, 8 Clouded Silvers, 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, Marbled Brown, Buff-tip, 2 Common Footmen, Cinnabar, Turnip Moth, 2 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Double Square-spots, 2 Dot Moths, 5 Brown Rustics, 3 Dark Arches, Light Arches, 14 Uncertains, Green Silver-lines, 2 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Golden Y, Beautiful Hook-tip, 7 Snouts and 8 Fan-foots.

My best count yet of False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella (8) headlined the other micros, the rest of which were Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 2 Grey Rush Case-bearers Coleophora glaucicolella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 5 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Light Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia incertana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, 6 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella and Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella.

Caddisflies included my first Goera pilosa, along with Ecnomus tenellus, probable Polycentropus flavomaculatus, 3 Hydropsyche siltalai, Limnephilus flavicornis and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.  Also 4 Summer Chafers and the Mayfly Serratella ignita.

Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 6th July

My next door neighbours have a large garden (which I benefit from as we overlook it) and asked me if I could show their 9 year old grandson some moths.  Rather than have him get up at the crack of dawn to go through my moth trap I set a different trap in their garden and popped round at a more civilised time to have a look through it with them.

The Privet Hawkmoth and Eyed Hawkmoth created the biggest wows but the lad made a friend with a Buff Ermine too, and much amusement was found in the fact that there was a moth called Uncertain.  I didn't keep count of everything in the trap as that wasn't the point but from what I could remember when I got back the following were also trapped: Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Cnephasia sp., 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 6 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Drinker, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Clouded Borders, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Swallow-tailed Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, 2 Clouded Silvers, White Ermine, Short-cloaked Moth, Heart and Dart, 10 Double Square-spots, Middle-barred Minor, 10 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Snouts and Dotted Fan-foot.

Drinker, North Elmham, 6th July

Dotted Fan-foot, North Elmham, 6th July

Short-cloaked Moth, North Elmham, 6th July

The best moth from my perspective was lurking on the side of the trap and at first I thought it was going to be a Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, and took it home with me to check.  It was only after I got home that it dawned on me how big it was.  I measured it - yep, this was no Small anything.  Surely this had to be a Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii!  It had to be on size but I dissected it just to make sure and so it proved - an unexpected lifer for me!

Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th July

There was one more lifer in the trap for me too - the green Lacewing Dichochrysa ventralis.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 6th July