Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 10: Pine Beauty and Orthosias to Grey Arches

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Pine Beauty Panolis flammea - One at the meadows on 20th March 2019 and one at Cranwich Heath on 14th March 2020.  None in my garden where I've only ever caught 2 in the 6 years I've trapped here (2015 and 2018).

Pine Beauty, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Pine Beauty, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta - 101 in the garden between 26th February and 1st May 2019 and 50 between 24th February and 20th April 2020.  2019 was the first time the total has edged into triple figures though 2020 was well under the average of 63.  Elsewhere 10 at the meadows (9 on one night), one at Sculthorpe Moor and 4 in the Brecks.

Clouded Drab, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Clouded Drab, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

female Clouded Drab, North Elmham, 11th April 2020

Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa - None.  Many Norfolk records of this species are migrants but a relatively high proportion of inland records may suggest that there is still a small resident population, perhaps.  Either way with one record just down the road there's some hope that I might get my first before too long.  Having said that, as I write 2021 is shaping up to be an unusually good year for this species and I haven't had a sniff of one yet.


Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi - A similar story to Clouded Drab above - 109 in the garden between 1st March and 26th April 2019 was the first time I've recorded over 100 (the average annual tally is 61) but 38 between 14th February and 22nd April 2020 was decidedly under par.  Elsewhere 19 at the meadows (3 nights) plus a caterpillar there on 25th May 2020, and 2 at Cranwich Heath.

Common Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Common Quaker caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020

Small Quaker Orthosia cruda - 2019 was my best year for this Orthosia too, with 133 trapped in the garden between 1st March and 26th April.  Unlike the previous species 2020 was above average too with 98 between 1st March and 13th April.  Around 73 a year is average here.  Elsewhere 14 at the meadows, 4 in the Brecks and 2 at Keswick.

Small Quaker, North Elmham, 1st March 2019

Small Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Small Quakers, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti - None.  I had caught these here on 3 occasions previously (2015 and 2017) (and so far 2021 is proving to be a good year for this species with 3 here so far plus one at the meadows).


Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis - This species is never common here but like the commoner Orthosias 2019 was my best year for them with 8 between 24th March and 29th April (the latter being my latest ever).  2020 was equally good with 8 between 13th and 27th April.  I'd only caught 9 here in the previous 4 years, with a completely blank year in 2018.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and one at Sculthorpe Moor.

Powdered Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Powdered Quakers, North Elmham, 13th April 2020

Northern Drab Orthosia opima - None.  I've never caught this species locally.  The inland form is pretty rare in Norfolk so it's a bit of a long-shot to hope for one, but there have been a handful of records in mid Norfolk so not without a chance.


Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica - Unlike the other common Orthosias 2019 was not my best year for this species - in fact it was my equal worst year, with a total of 243 between 25th February and 25th May.  2020 was even worse with 190 between 28th February and 20th May.  The average is around 256 a year.  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows and 10 in the Lake District.

Hebrew Character, North Elmham, 26th February 2019

Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda - 2019 was my best year for this species at home with 20 between 2nd March (my earliest ever) and 30th March but 2020 was my worst year with just 3 between 19th and 30th March.  The average annual tally here is 8.  Also one at the meadows and 6 in the Brecks.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd March 2019

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Hedge Rustic Tholera cespitis - One in my garden trap on 2nd September 2019 was a nice surprise, my first here and only my second ever anywhere.  It was followed by another one here on 30th August 2020.

Hedge Rustic, North Elmham, 2nd September 2019

Hedge Rustic, North Elmham, 30th August 2020

Feathered Gothic Tholera decimalis - None in the garden in 2019 but a record 6 between 29th August and 6th September 2020.  I had 7 of these in my garden between 2015 and 2017 but none in 2014, 2018 or now 2019.  Elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019.  All 14 Feathered Gothics that I've ever seen have been within just a 13-day period, 25th August to 6th September.

Feathered Gothic, North Elmham, 29th August 2020

Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis - Singles in the garden moth trap on 17th August 2019 and 8th August 2020.  Numbers here have varied from 1-7 in a year.  Also one next door on 9th August 2019 and at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Antler Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Nutmeg Anarta trifolii - At least 10 caught in my garden trap between 8th July and 21st August 2019 (not counted on one night) and then after one on 26th May 2020, 7 between 6th July and 9th September.  These were quite poor totals (average is around 15 a year).  Also recorded at the meadows, Whitwell Street, Weybourne (2) and Brancaster.

Nutmeg, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta myrtilli - One to light at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019 - only the second I've ever seen.  I've not found this species locally and given its heath-specific habits I'm not particularly expecting to.  None in 2020.

Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Row Heath (West Runton), 31st August 2019

Grey Arches Polia nebulosa - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was only the third I've ever seen.  I've never found it locally but it has been caught in my street.  None in 2020.

Grey Arches, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

Early April - moths starting to appear

No April fools on 1st April but an Early Grey was new for the year.  Not many other moths: Small Quaker, Clouded Drab and 9 Hebrew Characters.

Early Grey, North Elmham, 1st April

Next day this Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci appeared in the house (as usual, in a room without carpets).  This one was my first this year.

Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci, North Elmham, 2nd April

That night Twin-spotted Quaker made it on to the year list.Others moths were 2 Shoulder Stripes, Oak Beauty, Common Quaker, 6 Clouded Drabs, 11 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd April

It missed its own month but a March Tubic Diurnea fagella was new for the year on 3rd April.  Other moths that night were 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, 3 Oak Beauties, Red Chestnut, 2 Small Quakers, 5 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker and 9 Hebrew Characters.

March Tubic Diurnea fagella, North Elmham, 3rd April

A single new moth for the year for the fourth consecutive night on 4th, this time Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.  Also that night: Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, 3 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 3 Clouded Drabs, 5 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle.

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, North Elmham, 4th April

The following night's moths were March Moth, 3 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers and 10 Hebrew Characters. The only new species for the year in the trap was this Buff-tailed Bumblebee (I guess the tick it was carrying would have been too had I been able to identify it).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, North Elmham, 5th April

The following night produced March Moth, 2 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 8 Clouded Drabs, 10 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

On Saturday 7th I took a birding group round Minsmere in Suffolk.  As I was tucking into a slice of Chocolate Challenge at the cafe after we'd finished I felt a sharp nip to the back of my hand.  The culrpit turned out to be this Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum.

Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum, Minsmere, 7th April

A good variety of moths at home that night, though an Engrailed was the only one that was new for the year.  The others were 6 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Shoulder Stripe, Red Chestnut, 10 Small Quakers, 7 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker, 11 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Chestnut.

Engrailed, North Elmham, 7th April

There were a few other insects caught too, including my first green lacewing of the year, a male Chrysoperla carnea, and my first leafhopper of the year, Empoasca vitis.  Having recently joined the Dipterists Forum I thought I'd try my hand at identifying a fly, but failed.  I think it belonged to the family Simuliidae but I couldn't get any further than that.

Chrysoperla carnea (male), North Elmham, 7th April

Epoasca vitis, North Elmham, 7th April

Simuliid fly sp., North Elmham, 7th April

The following night was quieter with just 4 Small Quakers, 3 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 17 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle. Next day was even worse with Varied Carpet Beetle inside, 3 Small Quakers and 7 Hebrew Characters.

The night of 10th April was more promising and hopes were raised when I went to have a quick look round the outside of the trap before I went to bed as the first two moths I saw were both new for the year: Water Carpet (not quite annual here) and Brindled Pug.  It turned out they were the only new for the year but a reasonable variety included March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Red Chestnut, 7 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, 3 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers, 23 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Brindled Pug, North Elmham, 10th April

Water Carpet, North Elmham, 10th April

Another new moth for the year the following night: Early Thorn.  That was my 30th moth species this year - pretty poor for 11th April (last year I was on 47 by this time despite having spent a week out of the county in early April).  Also March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Red Chestnut, 6 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 15 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Early Thorn, North Elmham, 11th April

Thompson Water moths & inverts

On Saturday night the forecast looked interesting for moths - mild and cloudy but with the likelihood of a little light rain later on.  Dave and I headed down to Thompson Water, thinking that if the rain came to pass we would just use our headtorches, but if it remained dry the traps were in the car.  As it turned out the rain started before we'd left home, much more than the forecast had suggested, and it didn't let up when we arrived.  We decided to press on anyway, with headtorches of course, and quickly found a couple of Water Carpets, followed by 2 Hebrew Characters.  A wander through the woodland towards Thompson Common produced no less than 34 March Tubics Diurnea fagella and we eventually added 3 Engrailed and best of all, a Mottled Grey.  There were lots of Common Toads enjoying the puddles - I counted 33 but I'm sure I wouldn't have had to try very hard to reach a much higher number.

Mottled Grey, Thompson Water, 18th March

At home Early Thorn and, at long last, Common Quaker were added to the garden year list.

Early Thorn, North Elmham, 18th March

Common Quaker, North Elmham, 18th March

Other moths at home were Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Shoulder Stripe, Oak Beauty, 2 Dotted Borders, 3 Small Quakers, 3 Clouded Drabs and 4 Hebrew Characters.

On Sunday night the forecast was similar - mild and cloudy - except this time no rain was forecast.  We decided to try Thompson Water again, this time hopefully being able to put the traps out.  Ominously, and contrary to the forecast, it was raining as we headed there again and still raining when we arrived, albeit much lighter than yesterday - just a light drizzle really.  We put Dave's battery-operated trap up somewhere sheltered and then decided that the drizzle had become so light now that we would risk the others too.

We found another 7 Mottled Greys, some of which were quite worn and we pondered for a while whether they really were Mottled Greys or Early Tooth-striped.  Eventually we settled on the former but then I found one which I really wasn't convinced by - surely this one was an Early Tooth-striped?  I retained it to check and was later able to confirm that it was indeed a female Early Tooth-striped.

Early Tooth-striped, Thompson Water, 19th March

Other moths were about 20 March Tubics Diurnea fagella, 6 Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, 4 March Moths, 4 Water Carpets, 4 Brindled Pugs, Early Thorn, 8 Oak Beauties, 4 Engraileds, Red Chestnut, 7 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 2 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

Red Chestnut, Thompson Water, 19th March

Three beetles all proved to be species I hadn't identified before: Mud-dweller Ilybius ater, Nebria brevicollis and Silpha atrata.  Actually I had seen the Silpha before but without access to decent reference material I had misidentified it as a different Silpha species.

Mud-dweller Ilybius ater, Thompson Water, 19th March

Nebria brevicollis, Thompson Water, 19th March

Silpha atrata, Thompson Water, 19th March

When I retained a smaller creature I thought it might be a rove beetle, having a long flexible abdomen apparently not covered by elytra.  But under the lens it didn't look like a beetle at all, lacking any elytra but being covered in long hairs.  A really strange thing that I couldn't even identify to order at first.  Springtails (Collembola) came to mind but I dismissed that thought as at about 4mm long it was several times bigger than springtails I'd seen before, but when I looked at it under the microscope and saw its furcula (tail-like appendages folded beneath the body that are used for jumping) I realised it was a springtail after all.  Turns out it was Orchesella villosa - sometimes called Hairy Springtail but I don't think that name is always reserved for this species as opposed to others in the family.  According to the maps at NBN Gateway there aren't any records in Norfolk, but I suspect that has more to do with the lack of Collembola records in their database than it being remotely unusual.

Orchesella villosa, Thompson Water, 19th March

Other things of note included Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus and some White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger.

Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, Thompson Water, 19th March

Common Toads were not in such evidence as on Saturday but a few could still be found in the puddles.

Common Toads, Thompson Water, 19th March

At home 2 Twin-spotted Quakers were new for the garden year list.  There were also March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Early Thorn, 2 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 5 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Chestnut.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 19th March