Pigmy Footmen

On 30th July there was a Norfolk Moth Survey event at Queen's Hill (Costessey).  Normally I like to go to these events if I'm free, but on this occasion I had a competing offer.  Rob Lee was going to Winterton with Tim Hodge (and, as it turned out, Ryan Irvine) and that sounded like a better idea.  In the end I think I made the right decision as Queen's Hill didn't produce a huge amount, but then again Winterton was quite disappointing too.  Not all bad though, and the highlight for me was 3 Pigmy Footmen, a new species for me.

Pigmy Footmen, Winterton, 30th July (top two pics are the same individual)

Other highlights included Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, around 80 Long-legged Tabbies Synaphe punctalis and 3 Chevrons.  Heathland species that I don't see all that often included 2 Dusky Groundlings Aroga velocella, Heather Knot-horn Pempelia palumbella, 2 Narrow-winged Pugs, White-line Dart, 3 Archer's Darts and 12 True Lover's Knots.

Archer's Dart, Winterton, 30th July

Apart from that we also recorded 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 4 Barred Grass-veneers Agriphila inquinatella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 2 Drinkers, 2 Pebble Hook-tips, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 2 Peppered Moths, 3 Poplar Hawkmoths, Sallow Kitten, Lesser Swallow Prominent, 2 Swallow Prominents, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 3 Buff-tips, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, White Satin, 2 Black Arches, Rosy Footman, 8 Dingy Footmen, 8 Scarce Footmen, 3 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 4 Ruby Tigers, Flame Shoulder, 20 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Nutmeg, Bright-line Brown-eye, Antler Moth, Brown-line Bright-eye, 2 Clays, Southern Wainscot, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Dun-bar, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, Ear Moth, 2 Uncertains and Straw Dot - and Brown Chafer.

Sallow Kitten, Winterton, 30th July

Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Winterton, 30th July

Back at home my first Canary-shouldered Thorn of the year was a reminder that we're past the mothing season's peak and heading fast towards autumn.

Canary-shouldered Thorn, North Elmham, 30th July

Also new for the year were Tawny Speckled Pug, Magpie Moth and Flounced Rustic.

Magpie Moth, North Elmham, 30th July

Flounced Rustic, North Elmham, 30th July

Other macros were Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 12 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, Double-striped Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Border, Early Thorn, 2 Purple Thorns, 5 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Yellow-tails, 20 Dingy Footmen, 12 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 46 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 3 Ruby Tigers, Heart and Dart, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright-eye, 3 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 7 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 7 Common Rustics, 2 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth, 16 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 7 Nut-tree Tussocks, Herald and Straw Dot.

Nothing of much note among the micros which were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 21 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis and 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis. Also another Brown Chafer.