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.

Saturday 27 February 2021

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 1: Sobers - subfamily Anacampsinae)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE)


Subfamily ANACAMPSINAE


White-strap Sober Aproaerema larseniella - One at the Cathedral Meadows on 23rd June 2020 was a lovely surprise.  I've only seen a couple before and never anywhere near here.

male White-strap Sober Aproaerema larseniella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020



Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella - 5 in the garden trap between 26th July and 10th September 2019 and 4 between 7th and 28th August 2020.  I had 5 here in 2018 too but ony 1-2 in 2015/16 and none in 2017.  Also one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella, North Elmham, 28th August 2019


male Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella, North Elmham, 7th August 2020


male Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella, North Elmham, 29th August 2020



Poplar Sober Anacampsis populella - One in my garden trap on 4th August 2019 was a new moth for the garden.  Also 2 at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.  None in 2020.

female Poplar Sober Anacampsis populella, North Elmham, 4th August 2019



female Poplar Sobers Anacampsis populella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019



Birch Sober Anacampsis blattariella - None in 2019 but added to my garden list when I caught one on 4th August 2020.  Apparently this used to be much the rarer of the 2 Anacampsis species but recently it seems to have become much commoner.

male Birch Sober Anacampsis blattariella, North Elmham, 4th August 2020



Heather Sober Neofaculta ericetella - Another new moth for the garden when one turned up in my trap on 1st June 2019.  This seems to be quite a common species on heaths including fairly near here but nice to get one in the garden too.  None in 2020.

male Heather Sober Neofaculta ericetella, North Elmham, 1st June 2019


Square-spot Sober Hypatima rhomboidella - Again, a new moth for the garden in 2019, with singles on 25th July and 5th August and another on 2nd August 2020.  Also 2 at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.  A great showing for a moth I'd only ever seen twice before.  There's something very lovely about these moths - their smooth velvety grey colour and distinctive costal triangles combined with an elegant shape and resting posture.  The English and scientific names are curious as I'd have described the costal spots as more triangular, or maybe trapezoid rather than square or rhomboid...


Square-spot Sober Hypatima rhomboidella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019


Square-spot Sober Hypatima rhomboidella, North Elmham, 2nd August 2020



Acer Sober Anarsia innoxiella - Singles in the garden trap on 10th July 2019 and 26th July 2020, my second and third following one in 2017 (which followed the first for Norfolk by 3 days).  After the first 3 Norfolk records in 2017 and 2 in 2018 there were 18 widespread records in 2019 and 25 in 2020 - the species is now part of our fauna and we can expect to see more in the coming years.

Acer Sober Anarsia innoxiella, North Elmham, 10th July 2019


Acer Sober Anarsia innoxiella, North Elmham, 26th July 2020



Small Sober Anarsia spartiella - One in the garden trap on 19th July 2019 was my second record for the garden (one in 2017) but probably 2 more in 2020, on 1st and 23rd July (the latter escaped before I got a good look at it).  These may look boring and grey in my photos but in real life there is something quite sexy about these.


Small Sober Anarsia spartiella, North Elmham, 19th July 2019



Small Sober Anarsia spartiella, North Elmham, 1st July 2020


Next page: more Gelechiidae

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