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

Purple Hairstreaks

One of the highlights of a productive visit to the Cathedral Meadows on 2nd July was finding at least 30 Purple Hairstreak butterflies.  Judging from various reports on social media it seemed to be a good year for them so I'd been keeping an eye out for them.  After a couple of failed efforts I finally found them where I most expected them, in the oaks running along the  bottom of the meadows alongside the disused railway.  They were keeping high up so my photographic efforts leave something to be desired...

Purple Hairstreaks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Other butterflies included over 100 Ringlets and my first Gatekeeper of the year.  The former seem to be having a good year, although I don't have any previous years' data from this site to compare with, but I ended up seeing very few Gatekeepers indeed this year.

Moths included White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, 6 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 15 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 5 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Blood-veins, Small Fan-footed Wave and thousands of mines of Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella.

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July - dark and pale forms

One of at least 3 waxflies was retained for checking and proved to be Conwentzia psociformis,a species I'd only identified once before.

Conwentzia psociformis (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

I only checked 3 of them but if all the soldier beetles were the same species there were at least 40 Rhagonycha fulva.  Other insects included 2 Emperor dragonflies, 8 Meadow Grasshoppers, the mirid bug Stenotus binotatus, a Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius and an Ichneumon wasp that I tried and failed to identify, but a member of the genus Tryphon apparently.

Rhagonycha fulva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Tryphon sp., North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

That night new for the year (for the garden) were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Drinker, July Highflyer and Buff Footman, but better than any of them was another Wood Carpet.

Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, North Elmham, 2nd July

Drinker, North Elmham, 2nd July

Buff Footman, North Elmham, 2nd July

Other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 5 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 3 Buff Arches, 3 Small Emeralds, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 8 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, 7 Barred Straws, 2 Sandy Carpets, Grey Pug, V-Pug, 2 Green Pugs, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Early Thorns, 2 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, 2 Engraileds, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 3 Rosy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 39 Common Footmen, 12 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Clubs, 2 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 5 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, Dark Arches, Rufous Minor, Common Rustic (and 1 agg.), 13 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Mottled Rustics, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot and Snout.

There was also a Common Earwing and Caddisflies included Medium Sedge Goera pilosa (new for the year) and Limnephilus lunatus.

Next day Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana and Mere Wainscot were new for the year.

Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Mere Wainscot, North Elmham, 3rd July

Other moths (there were only 33 species, a low number in July) were 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 3 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, Clouded Border, Swallow-tailed Moth, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Coxcomb Prominent, 24 Common Footmen, 18 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 3 Heart and Darts, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Smoky Wainscot, Common Rustic, 14 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

A new beetle (Hallomenus binatatus) and more moths

Quite a few new moths for the year on 19th June again, with Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet and 2 Lilac Beauties.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 19th June

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th June

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham, 19th June

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, North Elmham, 19th June

Large Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 19th June

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 19th June

The rest of the moths were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Common Swift, 5 Common Emeralds, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 6 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Barred Straw, Barred Yellow, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, Elephant Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Common Footman, 2 White Ermines, 9 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Double Square-spots, Shears, Common Wainscot, 7 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Dark Arches, 3 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Treble Lines, 6 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, 39 Straw Dots, 4 Fan-foots and 3 Small Fan-foots.

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 19th June

Green Pug, North Elmham, 19th June

Caddisflies consisted of Ecnomus tenellus, Holocentropus picicornis, Polycentropus flavomaculatus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the first two of which were new for the year.

Holocentropus picicornis, North Elmham, 19th June

A Psallus varians was the only heteropteran bug but leafhoppers included what was probably my first Macrosteles sexnotatus (but a female, and you can't eliminate less likely congeners without a male) and Fagocyba cruenta.

probable Macrosteles sexnotatus (female), North Elmham, 19th June

Beetles included one lifer (Hallomenus binotatus), one new for the year (Summer Chafer), a Hydrophiliid I can't identify at the moment and have retained to look at again another day, and the soldier beetles Cantharis rufa and Cantharis cryptica.

Hallomenus binatatus, North Elmham, 19th June

Summer Chafer, North Elmham, 19th June

Just 4 new moths for the year the following night: Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis and Large Emerald.

Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, North Elmham, 20th June

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham, 20th June

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, North Elmham, 20th June

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 20th June

Others were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Tipped Oak Case-bearers Coleophora flavipennella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 2 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia woodiella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Purple Bar, Barred Straw, Common Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Scorched Wings, 6 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 16 Buff Ermines, 3 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 5 Ingrailed Clays, Bright-line Brown-eye, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 3 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, 3 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Hook-tip, 12 Straw Dots and Snout.

The brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus was new for the year as was the caddisfly Limnephilus rhombicus.   There was a Giant Cranefly Tipula maxima, the first I've noticed this year though I don't check craneflies carefully and representing the beetles, both Summer Chafer and Brown Chafer, the latter new for the year.

Limnephilus rhombanus, North Elmham, 20th June

Brown Chafer, North Elmham, 20th June