Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Ermines (Yponomeutidae) (part 1: Yponomeuta)

ERMINES (YPONOMEUTIDAE)


Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella - Recorded at home on 30 nights between 9th July and 22nd August 2019.  This included some nights where no count was made but over 130 individuals involved in total with a maximum count of 27 on 10th July.  A record-breaking 509 recorded at home in 2020 on 40 nights between 26th June and 21st August including peak counts of 84 on 18th July and 80 on 24th July.  Also recorded next door, at the meadows a couple of times both years (up to 15), at Bintree Wood and at Brancaster.  Lots of larvae noted at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, North Elmham, 18th July 2020

Ochard/Apple/Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta padella/malinus/cagnagella - These 3 species cannot be separated as adults (even with reference to their genitalia) at least in the majority of cases and when there is no clear association with their larval foodplant.  A total of 13 aggs. at home between 20th July and 28th August 2019 and 19 between 26th June and 24th August 2020.  Although none of these were, a couple in 2018 were distinctly grey which I understand is at least indicative of Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella - but I'm not sure how reliable that is?  Elsewhere singles at the meadows both years and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.

Orchard/Apple/Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta padella/malinus/cagnagella, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella - My first for the garden was on 27th July 2019, shortly followed by a second on 4th August and then next year a third on 31st July 2020.

Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella - One in the garden moth trap on 21st July 2020.  I've recorded this species here twice before, in 2015 and 2018.

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella, North Elmham, 21st July 2020

Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella - One in my garden moth trap on 30th July 2020.  I recorded 3 of these here in 2015 and 5 in 2018 but none in any other year.

Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, North Elmham, 30th July 2020

Brown Ash Ermine Zelleria hepariella - None.  I've only ever seen 2 of these, one here in 2015 and one at my old house in Bawdeswell in 2011.  There were more county records in 2019-20 than there had ever been up to 2018 so another one can be expected before long.


Next page: more Yponomeutidae

A few good seconds

Two new moths for the year on 7th August were both second records for the garden: Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis and Little Conch Cochylis dubitana.

Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis, North Elmham, 7th August

Little Conch Cochylis dubitana, North Elmham, 7th August

The most numerous moths were 76 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella. This was the peak count of the year and a record count for me.

Other moths were 2 Bordered Carls Coptotriche marginea, probable Skin Moth Monopis laevigella (would have been new for the year if it hadn't escaped before I could confirm it), 2 Carrion Moths Monopis weaverella, 2 Blackthorn Slenders Parornix torquillella, Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 3 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, 8 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Knapweed Conches Agapeta zoegana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 5 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Blotched Marbles Endothenia quadrimaculana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 23 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 7 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Maiden's Blush, Flame Carpet, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Common Carpets, Small Rivulet, Lime-speck Pug, Double-striped Pug, Dusky Thorn, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Turnip Moths, 3 Flame Shoulders, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Lesser Common Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustics and 4 Straw Dots.

Mayflies, lacewings and caddisflies consisted of 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, Cunctochrysa albolineata, Hemerobius humulinus, Hemerobius lutescens, 2 Micromus variegatus, 2 Ithytrichia lamellaris, Hydropsyche pellucidula, 5 Hydropsyche siltalai, 2 Limnephilus auricula and Leptocerus tineiformis.

Among the bugs Compsidolon salicellum was only my second.  Others were Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis, Trigonotylus caelestialium and the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.  There was also the psyllid Cacopsylla brunneipennis which was technically the first one I identified as this species.  However in the process of identifying it I realised that it was very probably the same species as one I had identified as Cacopsylla pulchra from 27th July.  I'd been a little doubtful about that ID so it was good to get a second chance to nail it.

Compsidolon salicellum, North Elmham, 7th August

Cacopsylla brunneipennis (female), North Elmham, 7th August

Beetles consisted of Amara apricaria, 6 Bradycellus verbasci, Aphodius rufipes and Harlequin Ladybird.  There were also 7 Hornets.

Hornets, North Elmham, 7th August

There were 3 new moths the following night and again they were all second records for the garden.  In fact the first two were my second records anywhere.  They were Rowan Slender Parornix scoticella, Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella and Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella.

Rowan Slender Parornix scoticella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th August

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella, North Elmham, 8th August

Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella, North Elmham, 8th August

Elm Midget Phyllonorycter tristrigella was also my second ever, following my first just six nights earlier.  Poplar Cosmet Batrachedra praeangusta was another species I had seen for the first time this year with two here in the garden and one elsewhere.

Elm Midget Phyllonorycter tristrigella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th August

Poplar Cosmet Batrachedra praeangusta, North Elmham, 8th August

The rest of the moths that night were 2 Carrion Moths Monopis weaverella, Apple Leaf-miner Lyonetia clerkella, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, 2 Blackthorn Slenders Parornix torquillella, Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 11 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 68 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, 2 Orange Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Common Carpets, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Magpie Moths, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 5 Dusky Thorns, 4 Willow Beauties, Coxcomb Prominent, 3 Turnip Moths, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 9 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Cabbage Moth, Common Wainscot, Common Rustic, 5 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics and 7 Straw Dots.

Mayflies, lacewings and caddisflies were 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, Dichochrysa flavifrons, Dichochrysa prasina, Conwentzia psociformis, Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus lunatus.

Birch Shieldbug was the only bug, Bradycellus verbasci and Aphodius rufipes the only beetles and there were 4 Hornets and a Common Wasp.

Things then took a turn for the worse and the night of 9th August was dire: just 41 moths of 14 species: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 22 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Willow Beauty, Turnip Moth, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Six-striped Rustic, Straw Underwing, 4 Flounced Rustics and 3 Straw Dots.

The only other insects I noted were Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Hornets.

If that was bad then the following night was even worse - just 9 species of moth!  They were Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 25 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 2 Orange Swifts, Willow Beauty, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, Common Wainscot and 2 Flounced Rustics.

There was also the caddisfly Limnephilus marmoratus, a Hornet and a Common Frog.

Next day I went to Titchwell where the main focus was birds.  But on the way out I stopped at In-focus to pick up my eye-piece that had been in for repairs.  The buddleia in their car park was full of butterflies but among them was something smaller.  Eventually I got a good enough look at it - it was a Gold Spot, and clearly very much at home among the butterflies feeding in the sunshine.

That night there was a slight improvement in numbers of moths though none were new for the year.  There were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Red Hazel Midget Phyllonorycter nicellii, Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 4 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 2 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 56 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Orange Swifts, Single-dotted Wave, Flame Carpet, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Magpie Moth, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Buff Ermine, 2 Flame Shoulders, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Six-striped Rustics, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Vine's Rustic and 6 Straw Dots.

Red Hazel Midget Phyllonorycter nicellii (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th August

Rush Marble Bactra lancealana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 11th August

Lacewings and caddisflies consisted of Hemerobius humulinus, Hemerobius lutescens, 4 Micromus variegatus, Hydropsyche siltalai, 3 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

There was one new insect for the year among the beetles, a 10-spot Ladybird - in fact only my second here I think.  Other beetles were Amara apricaria and Nicrophorus investigator.

10-spot Ladybird, North Elmham, 11th August

It's been a good year for Hornets and they peaked in the garden this night with a total of 10 in the moth trap.

My first Yponomeuta plumbella

Nothing to shout about on the night of 18th August but 19th was better with my first ever Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella.

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella, North Elmham, 19th August

Two micros requiring gen detting were new for the house despite both being common at my last house in Bawdeswell: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella and Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta.

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

The other micros recorded were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 22 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 14 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros were 2 Orange Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 7 Riband Waves, 2 Common Carpets, Green Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, Treble-bar, 2 Magpie Moths, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Peppered Moth, 4 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, 3 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Black Arches, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 14 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 3 Small Square-spots, 9 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, 4 Six-striped Rustics, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Nutmeg, Lychnis, 4 Common Wainscots, 2 Old Ladies, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, 9 Flounced Rustics, Rustic, Burnished Brass, Spectacle and 3 Straw Dots.

Orange Swift, North Elmham, 19th August

The full list for 18th was Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 24 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Orange Swift, Oak Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Magpie Moth, 2 Brimstone Moths, Peppered Moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 5 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Cloaked Minor, 13 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, Vine's Rustic and Straw Dot.