Description


A diary of my mothing activity covering highlights and photos from my moth trapping activities. Mainly Norfolk (UK), occasionally beyond. I may mention other wildlife sightings here, especially insects, but for birds see my birding diary.

Tuesday 2 March 2021

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Dwarfs (Elachistidae) (part 1)

DWARFS (ELACHISTIDAE)


Honeysuckle Dwarf Perittia obscurepunctella - None.  I've only ever found one of these and never near here, but it's widespread enough (if scarce) and there's plenty of Honeysuckle round here so must be a fair chance of it turning up locally.


Swan-feather Dwarf Elachista argentella - A total of 7 in my garden trap between 24th May to 17th June, a remarkable showing given that I'd only recorded 2 in the garden since moving here in 2014 (2016 and 2018).  Another 3 in 2020, between 8th and 26th May.  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows on 25th May 2019 and 2 there in 2020.

Swan-feather Dwarf Elachista argentella, North Elmham, 24th May 2019


Swan-feather Dwarf Elachista argentella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd May 2020



Meadow Dwarf Elachista triatomea - None.  I've recorded this species at the meadows and at a couple of other sites not far away but so far not in my garden.


Black-headed Dwarf Elachista atricomella - 3 caught in my garden between 8th and 14th September 2020.  Previously I've recorded this species in my garden a couple of times (2015 and 2018).  Elewhere one at the meadows on 5th June 2019, one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

male Black-headed Dwarf Elachista atricomella, Weybourne, 5th July 2019



male Black-headed Dwarf Elachista atricomella, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020



Marsh Dwarf Elachista alpinella - One in the garden on 3rd September 2019.  This is normally quite a scarce species, not recorded every year in Norfolk.  Previously my only records were in the very good year of 2016 when the crop of 7 county records included 3 in my garden and one I trapped elsewhere.


male Marsh Dwarf Elachista atricomella, North Elmham, 3rd September 2019



White-headed Dwarf Elachista albifrontella - None.  I'm yet to record this fairly widespread species locally.


Pearled Dwarf Elachista apicipunctella - Trapped in my garden on 24th June and 22nd July 2019 and 26th May 2020.  I'd only caught this species here twice before (2017 and 2018).  Also singles at the meadows on 6th May 2019 and 3rd May and 13th July 2020.

male Pearled Dwarf Elachista apicipunctella, North Elmham, 24th June 2019


male Pearled Dwarf Elachista apicipunctella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd May 2020


male Pearled Dwarf Elachista apicipunctella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020



Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella - 7 in my garden trap between 16th May and 1st June 2019 and then 25 between 23rd June and 23rd September.  A total of 32 represents my worst year for these since 2015 but 2020 was my best with 95 between 17th April and 26th September.  Although this is far and away my commonest Elachistid in the garden I've recorded very few indeed from other sites (none in 2019 or 2020).

male Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, North Elmham, 1st June 2019


Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, North Elmham, 17th April 2020



Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea - One in my trap on 24th April 2019 was a new moth for the garden but I caught almost exactly a year later, on 23rd April 2020.  At the meadows 6 flying at dusk on 25th April 2020 and one on 2nd May.  The majority of times I've recorded this species in the past it has been day-flying or netted at dusk - it doesn't seem to come to light very often.

Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea, North Elmham, 24th April 2019


Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea, North Elmham, 23rd April 2020


Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th April 2020



Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella - 5 in my garden trap between 1st June and 25th July 2019, the most I had recorded here in a year but beaten by 6 between 8th May and 16th August 2020.  Also recorded at the meadows where a maximum of 40 counted flying on 25th May 2020; also at Sculthorpe Moor.

Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, Sculthorpe Moor, 26th April 2019


Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th April 2020


Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, North Elmham, 8th May 2020


Next page: more Elachistidae plus

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