Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 3: Buttons I (Tortrix to Acleris))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Small Purple Button Spatalistis bifasciana - None.  I've only ever seen one of these and it wasn't local to here, but all the Norfolk records are from the last 20 years and most in the last 10 years, which suggests it's on the increase.  Not many records in this vice county yet, but it's widespread enough in the east so it should turn up here sometime.


Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana - 3 in the garden trap between 24th and 28th June 2019 but none here in 2020.  This was my first blank year - between 1-4 is normal but I had an exceptional 23 in 2018.  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows between 23rd June and 7th July 2019 (one in 2020), and 2 at Bintree Wood on the earlier date of 13th June. 

Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana - 7 in the garden trap between 24th June and 19th July 2019, about an average showing but just a single one here in 2020, on 23rd June.  Also 4 at the meadows in 2019 only.

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham, 23rd June 2020

White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana - None.  These were my first blank years here for this distinctive and attractive moth - in previous years I've recorded 1-6 in the garden.


Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana - At least 20 in the garden (not counted every night) between 19th July and 23rd August 2019 and 20 again between 17th July and 22nd August 2020.  These are slightly above-average totals.  Elsewhere recorded next door and at the meadows.

Maple Button Aleimma forsskaleana, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

Yellow Rose Button Acleris bergmanniana - None.  I am yet to find this species but given the spread of records in Norfolk it must surely only be a matter of time before I do.


Strawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana - None.  I've only had one confirmed record of this species, at home, in 2017.


Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana - just 4 in my garden trap between 15th August and 24th September 2019.  I've had more than that in a night before and average 16 per year, so this was an exceptionally poor total, but 2020 was only slightly better with 6 between 9th and 19th August.  Only one elsewhere, at Row Heath (West Runton).

male Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 15th August 2019

male Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 27th August 2019

female Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Row Heath (West Runton), 31st August 2019

female Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 20th September 2019

male Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 24th September 2019

male Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 9th August 2020

female Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 14th August 2020

male Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, North Elmham, 15th August 2020

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana - 3 at home between 30th September and 7th October 2019, my equal-worst year (double this on average) and a healthier 7 between 11th September and 9th November 2020.  Also one at the meadows and 3 in Cornwall.

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham, 11th September 2020

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana - 5 here between 30th August and 18th October 2019 and 5 again between 16th August and 20th October 2020, typical showings for this species.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham, 20th October 2020

Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana - one in the garden trap on 11th September 2019.  This species is nearly annual here with up to 3 a year but none in 2020.


Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana - A total of 8 here in 2019, 5 of the summer generation between 23rd June and 17th July and 3 in the autumn (hibernating) generation between 3rd November and 19th December.  One of the latter generation appeared on 10th March 2020 and then the summer season kicked off with a record 3 on 24th June, followed by another 4 by 16th July.  None in the autumn generation in 2020.  This species is listed as rare and up until 2015 it seems that that was an accurate description.  Numbers have surged in the last 5 years though, and it can hardly be described as rare any longer. 

Separation of this species from the Acleris laterana/comariana complex is not always straightforward based on external features and although I had a pretty good idea what most of these would turn out to be I have had individuals which I would have passed off as laterana had I not dissected them to eliminate comariana.  Equally I have had examples that I thought were going to be schalleriana but which proved to be laterana.  I think it is possible to identify some without recourse to dissection but personally I think it wise to build up a good level of experience of gen detted individuals before being confident about this, and at the moment I'm still building up that experience (although there was one particularly clear individual that I let go with just a photo in 2020).  Despite having caught 32 of these here now, I'm yet to record a single one anywhere else.

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 23rd June 2019

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 11th July 2019

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 19th December 2019

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 10th March 2020

male Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, North Elmham, 13th July 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

Moths at the meadows

On 16th July I trapped again at the meadows, catching 109 species of moth. There was nothing super-remarkable among them, but a few nice things.  Pine Hawk-moth was a surrpise given the absence of pines on site and it was good to see Peach Blossom, Small Phoenix, 2 White Satins and a Miller.

Pine Hawk-moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Peach Blossom, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

White Satin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Miller, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

The other macros were  2 Drinkers, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, 3 Buff Arches, Small Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, Common Carpet, 2 Sharp-angled Carpets, Small Rivulet, Bordered Pug, V-Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, 3 Peppered Moths, 4 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, 5 Yellow-tails, Black Arches, Round-winged Muslin, 2 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Lychnis, Antler Moth, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Grey Dagger, Knot Grass, Small Angle Shades, 2 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 3 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth, Small Rufous, 3 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Plain Golden Y and Spectacle.

V-Pug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Yellow Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Peppered Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Black Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Antler Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Grey Dagger (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Angle Shades, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Rufous, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Plain Golden Y, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Micros consisted of Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, 4 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, probable Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, up to 8 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella (1 confirmed), 4 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 12 Knapweed Conches Agapeta zoegana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 4 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, possible Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (messed up the gen det so not certain), 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 10 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 40 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Large Grey Scoparia subfusca, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula nitidulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella,

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Caddisflies included 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus rhombicus, Leptocerus tineiformis and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.  There was also a Blue-winged Olive (mayfly) Serratella ignita, the leafhopper Iassus lanio, the water beetle Ilybius fuliginosus, an Orange Ladybird and a new beetle for me, Curtonotus aulicus.

Iassus lanio, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Ilybius fuliginosus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Curtonotus aulicus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

This spider was marauding around on the sheet by the trap, probably hoping to munch the odd moth when I wasn't looking.  I failed to identify it from photos so asked a friend, who asked a friend and ended up with a reply from a third - great team effort!  Anyway, it was a Labrynth Spider Agelena labrynthica - thanks Keith, Chris and Richard!

Labrynth Spider Agelena labrynthica, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Mompha raschkiella and Anarsia spartiella new for the garden

A rather fine Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella was the highlight on Wednesday 5th July.  It was new for the garden and in fact only my second anywhere, and the first was such a worn specimen that I had to dissect it to work out what it was.  I'd not seen one in all its glory before and they're a lovely little moth even if my photos don't do it justice.

Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella, North Elmham, 5th July

Other moths that were new for the year here were Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens and Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana.

Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 5th July

Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, North Elmham, 5th July

Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, North Elmham, 5th July

The rest were 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 19 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Yellow Satin Veneers Crambus perlella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, 2 Blood-veins, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 3 Double-striped Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, Early Thorn, Privet Hawk-moth, Yellow-tail, Round-winged Muslin, 5 Rosy Footmen, 11 Dingy Footmen, 20 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, 27 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips and 2 Fan-foots.

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 5th July

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 5th July

Rustic, North Elmham, 5th July

A variety of other insects trapped included the mayfly Serratella ignita, the caddisflies Hydropsyche siltalai, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Goera pilosa and Leptocerus tineiformis, 3 more of the leafhopper Iassus lanio and the beetles Brown Chafer and Lagria hirta.  There was also a Common Frog and earlier a Small Tortoiseshell had come into my study.

Next day there was another new moth for the garden: Small Crest Anarsia spartiella.

Small Crest Anarsia spartiella, North Elmham, 6th July

Brown Scallop and Double Lobed were new for the year here and species I don't see here more than once or twice a year usually; Lesser Yellow Underwing was also new for the year.

Brown Scallop, North Elmham, 6th July

Double Lobed, North Elmham, 6th July

Lesser Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 6th July

Another Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana was of note.

Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th July

Other moths that night were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 3 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 2 Many-plumed Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 15 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 2 Ermine Knot-horns Phycitodes binaevella, 3 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, Least Carpet, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Shaded Broad-bar, Small Rivulet, 2 Clouded Borders, Scorched Carpet, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Engrailed, Common White Wave, Coxcomb Prominent, Round-winged Muslin, 5 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dingy Footmen, 12 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Double Square-spots, Nutmeg, Clay, 4 Smoky Wainscots, Slender Brindle, Common Rustic, 15 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Another or the same Common Frog was looking on and other insects included the green lacewings Cucnctochrysa albolineata and Dichochrysa flavifrons, the caddisflies Ecnomus tenellus and Athripsodes aterrimus and the beetle Lagria hirta.

Next day another Small Tortoiseshell appeared in the house, there was a Meadow Brown, Common Wasp and, new for the garden apparently (though surely not really), Red-tailed Bumblebee.

Small Tortoiseshell, North Elmham, 7th July