Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths

MOTHS

Most of my moth records come from my garden where I trap every night of the year (using a Robinson trap) unless I'm away - it's only a tiny garden but I caught my 900th species for the garden in 2020 (having started when I moved here in August 2014).  I recorded 615 species of moth in the garden in 2019 and 647 species in 2020.  Elsewhere, I spend a fair bit of time at the North Elmham Cathedral Meadows and do the odd trip to other locations.  Away from home I used to use an MV light suspended over a sheet and/or a Skinners trap, but now I more often use a pair of battery-operated LED lights (with or without a sheet) as these are far more mobile.   This account also references holidays in Mull (June 2019) where I used the Robinson trap at the holiday accommodation and LEDs at other locations and in Cornwall (October 2020) where I used both the Robinson and Skinners traps at the cottage where we stayed.

The moths section of this review covers over 100 pages - if you want to wade through them all then start here and follow the "Next page" links at the bottom of each page to move through.   If you've got better things to do and prefer to dip in to the families you're interested in then use the hyperlinks (orange text) below to jump straight to the pages you're interested in.  Or just close your browser and go out mothing instead.

• Micropterigidae (Golds)

Plain Golds Micropterix calthella

• Eriocraniidae (Purples)

Early Purple Eriocrania semipurpurella

• Hepialidae (Swifts and Ghost Moth)

Orange Swift

• Nepticulidae (Pigmies):


• genus Stigmella (1)

Willow Pigmy Stigmella obliquella - one of several species I recorded for the first time in 2019/20

• genus Stigmella (2)

Least Thorn Pigmy Stigmella perpygmaeella - another new one for me in 2020

• genera Trifurcula, Etainia, Fomoria and Zimmermannia

Oak-bark Pigmy Zimmermannia atrifrontella - the first confirmed record for Norfolk

• genus Ectoedemia

New Poplar Pigmy Ectoedemia hannoverella

• Opostegidae (White Bent-wings)

Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salaciella

• Heliozelidae (Lifts)

Oak Satin Lift Heliozela sericella

• Adelidae (Long-horns)

Yellow-barred Long-horn Nemophora degeerella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th June 2020

• Incurvariidae (Leaf-cutters)

Common Leaf-cutter Incurvaria oehlmanniella

• Tischeriidae (Carls)

Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea

• Psychidae (Bagworms)

Shining Bagworm Bacotia claustrella - the first adult to be recorded in Norfolk

• Tineidae (Clothes Moths)


• genera Morophaga, Nemapogon and Tineola

Gold-sheen Clothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella

• genera Tinea, Monopis and Psychoides

male Hart's-tongue Smut Psychoides verhuella - the tenth for Norfolk

• Bucculatricidae (Bent-wings)

Alder Bent-wing Bucculatrix cidarella - a first for me

• Gracillariidae (Slenders and Midgets):


• genera Calloptilia and Gracillaria

Clouded Slender Caloptilia populetorum

• genera Aspilapteryx, Calybites, Acrocercops, Leucospilapteryx and Callisto

Mugwort Slender Leucospilapteryx omissella

• genus Parornix

Beech Slender Parornix fagivora - one of 4 in 2020 following my first ever in 2019

• genus Phyllonorycter (part 1)

Scarce Oak Midget Phyllonorycter kuhlweiniella

• genus Phyllonorycter (part 2)

Willow Midget Phyllonorycter viminiella - new for me in 2019 and new for the garden in 2020

• genus Phyllonorycter (part 3)

Small Elm Midget Phyllonorycter schreberella - new for me in 2020

• genera Phyllonorycter (part 4), Cameraria and Phyllocnistis

Maple Midget Phyllonorycter acerifoliella - new for my garden in 2020

• Yponomeutidae (Ermines):


• genus Yponomeuta

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella

• genera Swammerdamia and complex, Cedestis and Ocnerostoma

Brown Pine Ermine Cedestis subfasciella

• Ypsolophidae (Smudges)

Hooked Smudge Yposolopha nemorella, North Elmham, 16th July 2019

• Plutellidae (Diamond-backs)

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella

• Glyphipterigidae (Fanners)

Reed Fanner Orthotelia sparganella - a good local record at the Cathedral Meadows

• Argyresthiidae (Argents)

Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella - contrary to the results of a recent Twitter poll, this IS the most beautiful British micro moth

• Lyonetiidae (Lyonetiid Leaf-miners)

Striped Bent-wing Lyonetia prunifoliella - the second for Norfolk

• Praydidae (Ash-bud Moths)

Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps

• Autostichidae (Obscures)

male Scarce Obscure Prays Oegoconia deauratella

• Oecophoridae (House Moths and Tubics)

Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha - new for me in 2020

• Chimabachidae (Tubics)

March Tubic Diurnea fagella

• Peleopodidae (Long-horned Flat-body)

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana

• Depressariidae (Flat-bodies):


• genera Semioscopis and complex, Luquetia and Agonopterix

Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea

• genera Depressaria and Telechrysis

Treble-spot Flat-body Telechrysis tripuncta

• Ethmiidae (Ermels)

• Cosmopterigidae (Cosmets)

Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella

• Gelechiidae (Gelechiids):


• subfamily Anacampsinae (Sobers)
  

White-strap Sober Aproaerema larseniella - the first one I've seen locally

• subfamilies Dichomeridinae and Apatetrinae (Crests)

Flame Crest Chrysoesthia drurella - a new moth for me

• subfamily Anomologinae (Nebs) I

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella - my garden remains the best site in Norfolk for these (but no longer the only site)

• subfamily Anomologinae (Nebs) II

Wainscot Neb Metzneria palustrellus - new for the garden

• subfamily Gelechiinae (Groundlings) I

Humped Groundling Psoricoptera gibbosella - new for me in 2019 and for the garden in 2020

• subfamily Gelechiinae (Groundlings) II

Goosefoot Groundling Scrobipalpa atriplicella - my first

• subfamily Gelechiinae (Groundlings) III

Horse-shoe Groundling Altenia scriptella - new for me in 2020

• Batrachedridae (Poplar and Pine Cosmets)

Poplar Cosmet Batrachedra praeangusta

• Coleophoridae (Case-bearers):


• Coleophora part 1
  

Osier Case-bearer Coleophora lusciniaepennella

• Coleophora part 2

Black-stigma Case-bearer Coleophora hemerobiella - new for me in 2020

• Coleophora part 3

White Birch Case-bearer Coleophora betulella

• Coleophora part 4

Black Bindweed Case-bearer Coleophora therinella

• Coleophora part 5

Dusted Case-bearer Coleophora adspersella

• Elachistidae (Dwarfs):


• Elachista part 1
  

Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea

• Elachista part 2

Field Dwarf Elachista consortella - featuring the first 3 records for Norfolk

• Parametriotidae (Cosmets)

Yellow-headed Cosmet Spuleria flavicaput

• Momphidae (Momphas)

Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella

• Blastobasidae (Dowds)

London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella

• Scythridae (Owlets)

White-dusted Owlet Scythris picaepennis - a new moth for me in 2020 and the 10th for Norfolk

• Alucitidae (Many-plume Moth)

Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla

• Pterophoridae (Plume Moths):


• genera Platyptilia, Amblyptilia, Stenoptilia, Oxyptilus, Pterophorus and Oidaematophorus
  

Breckland Plume Oxyptilus distans - the first for this 10km square

• genera Hellinsia and Emmelina

Citron Plume Hellinsia carphodactyla

• Epermeniidae (Lance-wings)

Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis

• Choreutidae (Metal-marks)

Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana

• Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths):


• part 1: Olindia to Zelotherese
  

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana

• part 2: Dichelia to Cnephasia

Spruce Tortrix Dichelia histrionana - the first for Norfolk and second for Britain

• part 3: Tortrix to Acleris I

Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana

• part 4: Acleris II to Pseudargyrotoza

Meadow-sweet Button Acleris shepherdana

• part 5: Phtheochroa to Aethes

Marbled Conch Eupoecilia angustana

• part 6: Cochylidia to Cochylichroa

male Birch Conch Thyraylea nana, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

• part 7: Eudemis to Lobesia

White-backed Marble Hedya salicella

• part 8: Endothenia to Spilonota

Bugle Marble Endothenia ustulana - a new moth for me in 2019

• part 9: Epinotia to Zeiraphera

Grey Aspen Bell Epinotia cinereana

• part 10: Eucosma to Epiblema

Saw-wort Bell Eucosma parvulana - new to Norfolk in 2019

• part 11: Notocelia to Rhyacionia

Spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinivorana - the first for Mull

• part 12: Dichrorampha to Cydia I

Scarce Pine Piercer Cydia cosmophorana - new for me in 2020

• part 13: Cydia II to Grapholita

Kent Fruit Piercer Grapholita lobarzewskii - my 7th garden record of a species that was new to Norfolk in 2018

• part 14: Pammene

Fruitlet-mining Tortrix Pammene rhediella - new for me in 2020

• Cossidae (Leopard Moth)

Leopard Moth

• Sesiidae (Clearwings)

Lunar Hornet Moth, North Elmham - a new moth for me in 2020

• Zygaenidae (Burnets)

Slender Scotch Burnet on Mull

• Pyralidae (Bee and Wax Moths, Knot-horns and Tabbies):


• part 1: Aphomia to Nephopterix (Bee and Wax Moths and Knot-horns I)

Wax Moth Galleria mellonella

• part 2: Acrobasis to Ephestia (Knot-horns II)

Saltmarsh Knot-horn Ancylosis oblitella - a new moth for me in 2020

• part 3: Pyralis to Endotricha (Tabbies)

Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis

• Crambidae (Grass Moths and allies):


• part 1: Pyrauta to Anania (Pearls I)

Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis - new for the garden in 2020

• part 2: Udea to Evergestis (Pearls II)

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis - new for the garden in 2020

• part 3: Scoparia to Eudonia (Greys)

Large Grey Scoparia subfusca

• part 4: Chilo to Agriphila (Grass-veneers I)

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella - exceptional years for this species

• part 5: Catoptria to Platytes (Grass-veneers II)

Pearl-band Grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella - an extoardinary record!

• part 6: Elophila to Donacaula (China-marks and Water-veneers)

Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata

• Drepanidae (Hook-tips, Lutestrings and allies)

Oak Lutestring

• Lasiocampidae (Eggars)

Lappet - a new moth for me in 2020

• Saturniidae (Emperor Moth)

Emperor Moth

• Sphingidae (Hawk-moths)

Elephant Hawk-moth

• Geometridae (Geometers):


• part 1: Idaea to Timandra (Waves)

Smoky Wave - new for me in 2019

• part 2: Cyclophora to Camptogramma (Mochas and Carpets I)

Yellow Shell

• part 3: Epirrhoe to Hydriomena (Carpets II)

Dark Spinach

• part 4: Pennithera to Dysstroma (Carpets III)

Chevron - new for the garden in 2020

• part 5: Colostygia to Odezia (Carpets IV)

Mottled Grey - new for the garden in 2019

• part 6: Mesotype to Eupithecia I (Carpets V and Pugs I)

Netted Pug - a new moth for me in my garden in 2020

• part 7: Eupithecia II (Pugs II)

Thyme Pug - one of four new Pugs for me on Mull

• part 8: Eupithecia III to Trichopteryx (Pugs III and Seraphims etc.)

Streak

• part 9: Abraxas to Pseudopanthera (Magpies and Peacocks etc.)

Bordered Beauty

• part 10: Apeira to Alosphila (Thorns and March Moth)

Swallow-tailed Moth

• part 11: Apocheima to Menophra (Brindled Beauties and Umbers)

Small Brindled Beauty - new for my garden in 2020

• part 12: Peribatodesto Campaea (Underwhelming Beauties and other Ennomins)

Grey Birch

• part 13: Geometrato Hemithea (Emeralds)

Small Emerald

• Notodontidae (Prominents and allies):


• part 1: Cerura to Drymonia (Puss Moth, Kittens, Lobster Moth and Marbled Browns)

Lobster Moth

• part 2: Notodonta to Clostera (Prominents, Buff-tip and Chocolate-tip)

Chocolate-tip

• Erebidae (Prominents and allies):


• part 1: Scoliopteryx to Orgyia (Herald, Straw Dot, Snouts and Tussocks and allies)

Herald

• part 2: Spilosoma to Eilema (Ermines, Tigers and Footmen)

Garden Tiger

• part 3: Macrochilo to Catocala (Fan-foots, Small Snouts, Beautiful Hook-tip and Red Underwings)

Red underwing

• Noctuidae (Noctuids):


• part 1: Abrostola to Colocasia (Spectacles, Plusias and allies, Marbled White Spot, Silver Hook and Nut-tree Tussock)

Gold Spot

• part 2: Acronicta to Cucullia (Daggers, Poplar Grey, Coronet, Small Yellow Underwing and Sharks)

Small Yellow Underwing

• part 3: Amphipyra to Crypgia (Copper Underwings, Sprawler, Marbled Beauty and their allies)

Tree-lichen Beauty

• part 4: Caradrina to Eremobia (Rustics and allies, Old Lady, Straw Underwing, Saxon, Angle Shades and Dusky Sallow)

Saxon on Mull

• part 5: Gortyna to Globia (Frosted Orange, Butterbur, Ears, some Wainscots and their allies)

Rush Wainscot - one of three caught at home in 2019/20

• part 6: Apamea to Mesapamea (Dusky Brocade, Brindles and allies, Double Lobed and Common Rustics)

Clouded-bordered Brindle

• part 7: Mesoligia to Cirrhia (Minors and Sallows)

Orange Sallow

• part 8: Agrochola to Lithophane (Chestnuts and allies, Pale Pinion and Shoulder-knots)

Dotted Chestnut

• part 9: Eupsilia to Mniotype (Satellite, Spotted Pinions, Centre-barred Sallow, Dingy Shears, Merveille, Brindled Green, Black Rustic, Ranunculuses and Dark Brocade)

Lesser-spotted Pinion

• part 10: Panolis to Polia (Pine Beauty, Orthosias, Hedge Rustic, Feathered Gothic, Antler Moth, Nutmeg, Beautiful Yellow Underwing and Grey Arches)

Beautiful Yellow Underwing

• part 11: Lacanobia to Hadena (Lacanobia Brocades, Shears, Campion, Lychnis, Hadena Coronets and their allies)

Broad-barred White

• part 12: Mythimna to Senta (most of the paler Wainscots including Brown-line Bright Eye, Clay and White-point)

Shore Wainscot

• part 13: Euxoa to Lycophotia (Euxoa and Agrotis Darts, Flame, Flame Shoulders, Diarsia Clays, Red Chestnut and True Lover's Knot)

Radford's Flame Shoulder in Cornwall - a new moth for me

• part 14: Noctua to Anaplectoides (Yellow Underwings and Green Arches)

Green Arches

• part 15: Xestia to Eugnorisma (Xestia Clays and Autumnal Rustic)

Heath Rustic - a new moth for me in 2019

• Nolidae (smaller Black Arches, Silver-lines, Nycteoline and Cream-bordered Green Pea)

Green Silver-lines - possibly the best-looking moth in the world?