Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella at home!

I have a bit of a thing for Scarce Oak Midgets Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella.  It was known from south Norfolk between 1982 and 1996 and then wasn't seen again in the county until I discovered them at several new sites in different parts of the county, sometimes in good numbers and some on my local patch, in the excellent Phyllonorycter year of 2014.  None were recorded again in 2015 (a much worse year for Phyllonorycter generally) and so far this year the only record in the database is one Paul Cobb found while I was with him, and which I identified.  On 7th August I topped it all off with one in my own garden trap.  Amazing!  It was a bit worn so I gen detted it just to make sure, not that there was really anything else it could have been.

Scarce Oak Midget Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 7th August

Marbled Cosmet Mompha propinquella and Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana were both new for the year.  According to various references Mompha propinquella can be separated from the much rarer (at least in Norfolk) Mompha lacteella by its white (not buff) head and thorax.  Why then does every single Mompha propinquella I ever see have a buff head and thorax?  Some, including this one, were gen detted to make sure.

Marbled Cosmet Mompha propinquella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 7th August

Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, North Elmham, 7th August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Daisy Bent-wing Bucculatrix nigricomella, White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, 5 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (and another unidentified Cnephasia that may have been the same), Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Nut Bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 28 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 20 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

The best macro was Twin-spotted Waisncot, new for the year here and not one I see many of at home.

Twin-spotted Wainscot, North Elmham, 7th August

Other macros were Large Emerald, 2 Blood-veins, 2 Least Carpets, 10 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Currant Pug, 2 Magpie Moths, Brimstone Moth, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 2 Dusky Thorns, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 3 Pebble Prominents, Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, 4 Pale Prominents, 7 Yellow-tails, 2 Black Arches, 3 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, 2 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Least Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, 4 Dark Arches, 5 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Uncertain, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks and 10 Straw Dots.

Least Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 7th August

Lacewings included my second Nineta vittata and a Chryoperla carnea agg. (female, presumably carnea).  A Forest Bug (Red-legged Shieldbug) was the only bug noted and Nicrophorus investigator the only beetle identified.

Nineta vittata, North Elmham, 7th August

The following night was much less productive although it did produce one new moth for the house, a Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana.

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, North Elmham, 8th August

The only other micros were 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 15 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis and 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis.

The macros consisted of Orange Swift, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, Dusky Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 3 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Black Arches, Dingy Footman, Ruby Tiger, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 4 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 10 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Straw Underwings, Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Spectacle and 3 Straw Dots.

Other insects included by first Oak Bush-cricket of the year here and another Nicrophorus investigator.

Oak Bush-cricket, North Elmham, 8th August

Next day (9th August) was even poorer with just 51 moths of 27 species: a Parornix sp. (lost before I could check the species), Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 8 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Single-dotted Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scalloped Oak, 2 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, Yellow-tail, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 4 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustics, Spectacle and Straw Dot.