Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 2: Pearls II (Udea to Evergestis)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE)


Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis - One in my garden on 4th July 2019 was my earliest ever by over a month and was followed by 10 more between 4th August and 13th September.  An even earlier one turned up in 2020, on 15th June, and was followed by 7 more between 12th September and 28th November.  As is expected for a migrant species this moth varies in numbers here from year to year - 2014 and 2016 were better years but I only trapped 0-2 in 2015, 2017 and 2018.  Elsewhere 11 in Cornwall in the first week of October 2020.

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 4th July 2019

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 15th June 2020

Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutelais - 7 trapped in the garden between 22nd July and 22nd August 2019: a much poorer showing than before - I've had as many as 61 in a year here (average 37).  2020 was better but still unimpressive, with 19 between 21st July and 20th August.  Singles recorded at the meadows on 6 dates - it's often easier to find in the day time here than coming to light.

Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis - 5 caught in the garden between 8th July and 1st August 2019 and 4 between 30th June and 17th July 2020.  I average about 10 a year here and these were (just) my worst years to date.  Also one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Olive Pearl Udea olivalis - One at Weybourne on 5th July was my only record in 2019 and none in 2020.  Although this species is quite common in parts of Norfolk and occurs pretty much everywhere, I've yet to find one here in North Elmham.  I only ever caught one when I was living at Bawdeswell too, so they do seem to be quite scarce locally.


Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis - Caught at home on 45 nights between 5th July and 9th September 2019.  I can't give a meaningful total as I didn't count them on 18 of these nights, but there were 100 either side of this busy period (including 18 on 23rd July).  The number of nights was slightly lower than in any of the previous 4 years.  They were counted every night in 2020 but there were only 146 over 34 nights between 1st July and 23rd August, far and away my worst showing here (I averaged 365/year in 2015-18).  Also recorded next door, at the village allotments and at the meadows where there were at least 200 feeding on Rosebay Willowherb along the railway on 4th August 2019.  Further afield, recorded at Bintree Wood, Hellesdon, Swanton Great Wood and Row Heath (West Runton).

Mother of Pearls Patania ruralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Madder Pearl Mecyna asinalis - In the UK this species is restricted to SW coasts and I've never seen it here, but I did have one come to LED lights in NW Spain in February 2020.

Madder Pearl Mecyna asinalis, near Sant Vicenc (Catalonia, Spain), 23rd February 2020

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis - One in the garden on 16th October 2020 was the first one I've ever caught this scarce migrant in Norfolk, and very welcome it was too!  It didn't go into the trap but was found resting on the lawn round the outside.  Previously I'd only ever seen one in Cornwall (plus one that Dave caught in Toftwood, but I don't count that as I didn't catch it).

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella - None.  My first blank years for this migrant species since moving in in 2014 though most years I've only had 1-2 (13 in 2016).


Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis - None.  I still haven't connected with this adventive species despite it now getting quite common in Norwich and increasing number of records from other parts of the county.  I should imagine that any local Box growers are rather less keen than I am to see it arrive, as surely it will do before long...


Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis - An average year in 2019 with at least 47 here between 19th May and 4th September 2019 (not counted on a couple of nights), and just about my best ever year in 2020 with 77 between 7th May and 8th September.  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows.

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham, 19th May 2019

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Marbled Yellow Pearl Evergestis extrimalis - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's mainly recorded from the Brecks or round the coast there are a scattering of records elsewhere so it's feasible that one might crop up round here sometime.

Chequered Pearl Evergestis pallidata - 5 caught in the garden between 17th July and 5th August 2019 and 5 between 3rd July and 6th August 2020 - my worst years for this species here so far (averages 9 a year).  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham, 3rd July 2020

Next page: more Crambidae

Honeysuckle Moth and more

Tuesday 15th August was a quiet nigth with just the following trapped: Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 16 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Brimstone Moth, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Small Square-spots, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Common Wainscot, Flounced Rustic and Straw Dot; also the beetle Bradycellus verbasci. There was also Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella and Black Sexton Beetle in the house.

Next day was much better with 47 species of moth including no less than 5 new for the year: Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella (not quite annual here), Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis (a migrant), Tawny Speckled Pug, Narrow-winged Pug (mainly a heathland species but I've had singles at home in each of the last 3 years) and Straw Underwing.

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, North Elmham, 16th August

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 16th August

Tawny Speckled Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Narrow-winged Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Straw Underwing, North Elmham, 16th August

Other moths that night were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 14 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Garden Carpets, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Currant Pug, 9 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 3 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, 3 Flame Shoulders, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 10 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, 2 Common Wainscots, Flounced Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 3 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

Two of the 4 species of caddisflies were new for the year: Crunoecia irrorata and Grammotaulius nigropunctatus; the others were Hydropsyche pellucidula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Crunoecia irrorata (male), North Elmham, 16th August

Grammotaulius nigropunctatus (female), North Elmham, 16th August

A Chrysoperla lucasina was only my second example of this green lacewing; there was also a female Chrysoperla carnea agg.  There were 3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), a Forest Bug, the leafhopper Empoasca vitis and a new beetle for the house: Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 16th August

Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium, North Elmham, 16th August

December's moths and things

A Chestnut was the only moth on 1st December but the following evening produced 2 Winter Moths, Feathered Thorn and another Chestnut.  3 Winter Moths and a Mottled Umber on 3rd were followed by a couple of nil returns.  Another Winter Moth showed up on 6th accompanied by the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus.

This spider appeared inside the house on 7th - so far I haven't been able to identify it as there seem to be a number of similar species.

unidentified spider, North Elmham, 7th December

A better showing on the night of 7th December: December Moth, 2 Winter Moths, Scarce Umber and 2 Mottled Umbers. Four species again the following night with Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Winter Moth and Mottled Umber. Nice to get a migrant (the Rusty-dot Pearl) in December!

Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, North Elmham, 8th December

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 8th December

Other insects that night included Common Earwig, another Limnephilus lunatus and this Rove Beetle which I cannot identify.  Any help welcome!

unidentified Rove Beetle, North Elmham, 8th December

A surprise on 9th December was by far my latest ever Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea.  Apart from one in Cornwall in mid November my previous latest was 6th November, so over a month later than any I've recorded in Norfolk before.

Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, North Elmham, 9th December

A Mottled Umber was the only other moth that night, along with another Common Earwig and Limnephilus lunatus.  The following night produced Winter Moth, Mottled Umber and Chestnut, with just single Mottled Umbers the following two nights.  Next day I found a moth in the bathroom, presumably having come indoors the night before, or perhaps beforehand.  It proved to be a Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, only my second record at home this year.  Presumably it was trying to over-winter here.

Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, North Elmham, 13th December

That night there was another Mottled Umber and the bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 13th December

The following night there were 2 Winter Moths and a Mottled Umber.  No moths on 15th but another Pinalitus cervinus.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 15th December

A Mottled Umber on 16th and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus on 17th.  Winter Moth on 18th, Mottled Umber on 19th, nothing on 10th, 4 Winter Moths on 21st, nothing on 22nd and Winter Moth and Mottled Umber on 23rd.

Nothing on 24th or on the very mild but windy night of Christmas Day.  The ladybirds hibernating (or more accurately in winter dormancy - apparently insects don't actually hibernate in the strict sense of the word) in my study have noticed the change in temperatures though... some of them are going for little wanders now.

Dark Spinach and Phyllonorycter corylifoliella

My last post referred to a mid-August lull and 17th August was still in that lull with relatively few moths.  But one of them was a Dark Spinach, a lifer for me, so I wasn't complaining.

Dark Spinach, North Elmham, 17th August

Other species recorded that night were Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 4 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Maple Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Coxcomb Prominent, Black Arches, Ruby Tiger, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, Square-spot Rustic, 7 Flounced Rustics, Rustic, Silver Y, Spectacle and 10 Straw Dots.

 Maple Pug (female, gen det), North Elmham, 17th August

Several wasps in the trap too, at least one of which was Common Wasp.

The following night produced Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Blood-vein, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Ruby Tiger, 5 Flame Shoulders, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Flounced Rustics, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 11 Straw Dots and Snout.

For the first time in a while I took a closer look at some of the caddis in the trap, partly because I could see straight away that one of them was new for the year.  It's such a distinctive species that I had identified them in previous years without the use of a key, but having said that there are a couple of quite similar species so it was good to confirm one properly now - Athripsodes albifrons.

Athripsodes albifrons (female), North Elmham, 18th August

The other caddis I retained proved to be male Hydropsyche siltalai and female Polycentropus irroratus.  I had thought I'd identified the latter species early on in the year but subsquently decided it had been Polycentropus flavomaculatus, as all the subsequent ones I checked seemed to be flavomaculatus too.  They're not easy, so possible I have made mistakes with some, but I had a very careful look at this one's subgenital plate having thoroughly cleaned it in potassium hydroxide, and am satisfied it was irroratus.

Polycentropus irroratus (female), North Elmham, 18th August

This leafhopper is a Kybos sp. but I'm not sure I can positively say which one.  I suspect Kybos betulicola.

Kybos sp., probably Kybos betulicola, North Elmham, 18th August

The highlight on 19th August was my first Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella.  It's actually a very common species with loads of records of its leafmines, but adults are a little harder to find.

 Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

Other moths that night were Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, Orange Swift, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Common Carpets, Small Rivulet, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Black Arches, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Straw Underwing, Common Rustic, 5 Flounced Rustics and 14 Straw Dots. Earlier in the day there had been a Silver Y feeding in the garden.

There were still only 30 species on 20th August, but these included 3 new for the year so I guess that was a sign of things improving.  Those were Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis and Mouse Moth.

Wainscot Smudge Yposolopha scabrella, North Elmham, 20th August

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 20th August

Mouse Moth, North Elmham, 20th August

The others that night were 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 12 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pebble Hook-tip, Riband Wave, Common Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Swallow Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 5 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 8 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spotted Clay, Six-striped Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Flounced Rustic, Spectacle and 7 Straw Dots.

A very late Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and a couple of late migrants

The highlight on Guy Fawkes Night was a Variable Smudge Ypsolopha ustella, my first here and only my fourth ever.

Variable Smudge Ypsolopha ustella, North Elmham, 5th November

The weirdest record this night was a Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, a common species but one that normally stops flying at the end of August.  I checked the wing pattern and genitalia carefully to rule out Langmaid's, not that that's a late speices either.

exceptionally late Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 5th November

Good to see one late migrant - even if it was only a Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella.

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, North Elmham, 5th November

Other moths that night were 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Pale November Moths, November Moth agg., 4 Feathered Thorns and 5 Sprawlers.

The next few nights were a bit more ordinary:

• Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, December Moth, Pale November Moth, November Moth agg., 9 Feathered Thorns, Mottled Umber, 3 Sprawlers and Green-brindled Crescent on 6th;
• December Moth, November Moth, Pale November Moth, Feathered Thorn and 2 Sprawlers on 7th;
• Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, 5 December Moths, November Moth, 2 Pale November Moths, 4 Feathered Thorns and Yellow-line Quaker on 8th;
• Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, December Moth, Feathered Thorn, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Sprawler and Dark Chestnut on 9th.

December Moth, North Elmham, 6th November

The first December Moth on 8th seemed very small, and when I found the second and put them side-by-side the size difference was remarkable.  The second was in fact a bit larger than most as you can see when all 5 are in a row (they're the 3rd and 4th from the left in the second photo).

December Moths, North Elmham, 8th November

The next 3 nights' catches all consisted of Sprawlers and one other species.  On 10th November it was 5 Sprawlers and my first Scarce Umber of the year.

Scarce Umber, North Elmham, 10th November

11th was single Sprawler and Yellow-line Quaker and on 12th it was my first Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis of the year and 2 Sprawlers.  Nice to get a migrant so late in the year.

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 12th November

The Sprawlers were my last of the year (assuming I don't get any late ones) and brought the total for the autumn to an incredible 60 individuals.

Just one Mottled Umber on 13th and Satellite and Chestnut on 14th.  So few moths you'd think it was mid November already...

 Satellite, North Elmham, 14th November

I was a bit surprised to find a leafhopper in the trap on 14th, with it being such a cool night.  Having eliminated some similar species on wing-venation I'm pretty sure it's Eupteryx filicum, a new species for me.

Eupteryx filicum, North Elmham, 14th November

A Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, on 15th November was the only one of these I've had this autumn.  Also Feathered Thorn and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th November

A Chestnut was the only moth on 16th.