Ringstead moths

On Saturday 24th June I popped in to Ryburgh where there was Stoat, Banded Demoiselle, Black-tailed Skimmer, Cinnabar and lots of butterflies including Ringlet and Large Skippers.

That evening I joined the Norfolk Moth Survey at Courtyard Farm, Ringstead.  I was looking forward to this as I'd explored some of the public footpaths round the area during my lunchbreaks when I worked nearby and seen a good variety of day-flying moths and butterflies.  After a bit of faffing we eventually decided to set up on the north side of the farm where there is some great meadow habitat.  After a technical hitch with the generator (thanks to Gary for sorting it out - slightly embarrassing that I hadn't turned the fuel on) we got going, and it proved very interesting.

For some the highlight was probably the 6 (or so) Royal Mantles and there were plenty of other distinctive macros for folk who don't do micros and pugs! 2 Ghost Moths, 2 Leopard Moths, Drinker, 2 Peach Blossoms, 3 Buff Arches, Purple Bar, 2 Barred Yellows, Blue-bordered Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Latticed Heath, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Lobster Moth, 6 Rosy Footmen, Ruby Tiger, Short-cloaked Moth, Marbled Coronet, Burnished Brass, Beautiful Golden Y, Blackneck and 4 Beautiful Hook-tips to name a few (as always with these outings, the numbers are just as many as I can remember the next day - there were probably much higher numbers of some of these).

Royal Mantle, Ringstead, 24th June

A Dark Umber was perhaps less impressive, especially in its worn state, and what was for me the best macro went completely undetected until I dissected it - a Yarrow Pug, a new species for me.

Yarrow Pug (female, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Other macros were 3 Common Swifts, 3 Common Emeralds, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, Garden Carpet, 6 Common Carpets, Barred Straw, 2 Sandy Carpets, Lime-speck Pug, 2 Common Pugs, Grey Pug, 3 Shaded Pugs, Clouded Border, 4 Brimstone Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, Common White Wave, 4 Clouded Silvers, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, 4 Common Footmen, Turnip Moth, Heart and Club, Heart and Dart, 2 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 8 Brown-line Bright Eyes, 3 Clays, Common Wainscot, Dark Dagger, Knot Grass, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors (and at least 2 more Marbled Minor aggs.), 3 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 3 Snouts, 2 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Dark Dagger (male, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

For me the micros were more exciting, although like the pug, neither of the lifers were confirmed until they'd had their genitalia examined.  I retained 3 bronzy-green Coleophora which I imagined would be (Small) Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, by far the commonest species, but in fact they proved to be my first ever Red-clover Case-bearers Coleophora deauratella.

Red-clover Case-bearer Coleophora deauratella (male, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Another nice surprise when looking down the microscope was one of the Cnephasia - it turned out to be Meadow Shade Cnephasia pasiuana, a species only recorded five times previously in Norfolk.

Meadow Shade Cnephasia pasiusana (male, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Perhaps the rarest moth seen, at least so it seemed when I identified it on examining its genitalia, was Scarce Thorn Case-bearer Coleophora trigeminella.  At the time I thought it was the second record for Norfolk, but little did I know that I had three more sitting in pots on my desk that I had from the previous few days (one from Warham Greens and two from my own garden).  An amazing series of records!

Scarce Thorn Case-bearer Coleophora trigeminella (male, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Given that there were only 13 previous records in the county the number of Straw Flat-bodies Agonopterix kaekeritziana trapped was astonishing.  I put down 20 in my notes but I suspect the true number was considerably higher.

Straw Flat-body Agonopterix kaekeritziana, Ringstead, 24th June

One of the other highlights for me was my second ever Roseate Marble Celypha rosaceana.

Roseate Marble Celypha rosaceana, Ringstead, 24th June

I wasn't aware of, or had forgotten, the existence of an orangey-brown form of  Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana.  Two out of four that I saw belonged to this form f. ferrugana.

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana f. ferrugana, Ringstead, 24th June

Other micros I got to see included Sycamore-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia decentella, Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Netted Argent Argyresthia retinella, 5 Hawthorn Argents Argyresthia bonnetella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Hawthorn Ermels Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Apple & Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella, 2 Pistol Case-bearers Coleophora anatipennella, Meadow Dwarf Elachista triatomea, 10 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, 6 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 10 Marbled Conches Eupoecilia angustana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 6 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Yellow-spot Tortrixes Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (and lots more Cnephasia sp. that I didn't retain for checking), Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 12 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 3 Bramble Shoot Moths Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana, Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, 30 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Yellow Satin Veneers Crambus perlella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 10 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Lesser Pearls Sitochroa verticalis, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, 2 Twin-barred Knot-horns Homoeosoma sinuella, 2 Yarrow Plumes Gillmeria pallidactyla, 4 Brown Plumes Stenoptilia pterodactyla and 2 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Sycamore-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia decentella, Ringstead, 24th June

Apple and Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella (female, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Pistol Case-bearer Coleophora anatipennella (male, gen det), Ringstead, 24th June

Meadow Dwarf Elachista triatomea, Ringstead, 24th June

Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, Ringstead, 24th June

Marbled Cnoches Eupoecilia angustana, Ringstead, 24th June

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, Ringstead, 24th June

Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla, Ringstead, 24th June

Two Dichocrhysa flavifrons represented the lacewings and the Scorpion Fly I checked was Panorpa communis.  The one caddisfly I retained to check proved to be a new species for me, Ceraclea albimacula.

Ceraclea albimacula (male), Ringstead, 24th June

The bug Polymerus unifasciatus was also new for me, unlike the Hawthorn Shieldbug.  The only beetle I identified was a Harlequin Ladybird.

Polymerus unifasciatus, Ringstead, 24th June

Bordered Beauty and more

After a relatively disappointing evening at Claxton with the Norfolk Moth Survey on 6th August I didn't have particularly high hopes for my own moth trap as I emptied it the following morning.  In fact it turned out to be an excellent night at home with several quality moths.  The impression was one of quality over quantity but actually even the quantity was respectable enough for August: 278 moths of 102 species.  There were several highlights but I suppose the moth of the night had to be this Bordered Beauty.  Technically I had seen one before as I happened to be round Dave's house when he had one in a pot that he'd caught the night before, but I don't normally count moths under those circumstances, and in any case it's far more exciting catching your own.

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 6th August

This Straw Flat-body Agonopterix kaekeritziana was perhaps the rarest moth of the night with only two records in Norfolk over the last 12 years (one of which was mine at my old house).  Quite a distinctive and subtly attractive Agonopterix in my opinion.

Straw Flat-body Agonopterix kaekeritziana, North Elmham, 6th August

Another moth that hadn't been recorded in Norfolk for a couple of years was Bog Dwarf Elachista utonella, until I caught one here on 26th July.  That one surprised me as it's a long way from any known sites, so it was interesting to trap another one on 6th August - presumably there must be a poplation not far away. rather than both of them having wandered half way across the county. 

Bog Dwarf Elachista utonella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

Not one but 2 Vetch Sobers Aproaerema anthyllidella were a surprise - new for the house and only my second and third ever.  It's another moth with relatively few county records but unlike the last this species seems to be increasing (or at least is being recorded more frequently) - the vast majority of records have been in the last few years.

Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

Also new for the house, though not so unexpected, was Sallow Marble Apotomis capreana. Several new for the year here too: 2 Sharp-winged Drills Dichrorampha acuminatana, 2 Orange Swifts, Maple Pug and Dusky Thorn.

Dusky Thorn, North Elmham, 6th August

Orange Swift, North Elmham, 6th August

Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham, 6th August

The other macros that night were Drinker, 3 Pebble Hook-tips, Chinese Character, Small Fan-footed Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 5 Common Carpets, Lime-speck Pug, Wormwood Pug, 3 Magpie Moths, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, Purple Thorn, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, 2 Pebble Prominents, 2 Swallow Prominents, 2 Pale Prominents, 6 Yellow-tails, 3 Black Arches, 4 Rosy Footmen, 9 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, Common Footman, 2 Ruby Tigers, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 7 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Lychnis, Brown-line Bright-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Grey Dagger, 2 Straw Underwings, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Ear Moth, 2 Uncertains, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, 12 Straw Dots and Fan-foot.

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

The other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 3 Ribwort Slenders Aspilapteryx tringipennella, 2 White Oak Midgets Phyllonorycter harrisella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 2 House Groundlings Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 28 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 17 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 4 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, North Elmham, 6th August

Other insects included the distinctive Brown Lacewing Micromus variegatus, a Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus and Forest Bug (Red-legged Shieldbug).

Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus, North Elmham, 6th August

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 6th August