Red-belted Clearwing

The 93 species of moth at home on 16th July included the following new moths for the year: Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella, Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, Magpie Moth and Blackneck. I've now had a single (but only a single) Blackneck here in each of the last four years.

Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella, North Elmham, 16th July

Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

Magpie Moth, North Elmham, 16th July

Blackneck, North Elmham, 16th July

Others were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 10 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Hawthorn Ermines Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, 8 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 123 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, 15 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Drinker, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Common Emerald, 2 Blood-veins, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 2 July Highflyers, Small Rivulet, Maple Pug, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, 6 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 7 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, Willow Beauty, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawk-moth, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Yellow-tails, 5 Rosy Footmen, 17 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 14 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 2 Ruby Tigers, Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 6 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dun-bars, Tawny Marbled Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 2 Dusky Sallows, 22 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and Fan-foot.

Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, North Elmham, 16th July - not sure I've had one so 'black-and-white' before; they usually have quite a bit or orangey-brown colouration

Other insects were Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum and Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum (mayflies), the caddisflies Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus and Athripsodes aterrimus, the leafhopper Iassus lanio and the beetle Lagria hirta.  There was also this icnhemon wasp which I naively thought might be sufficiently distinctive as to be identifiable.  Well I tried to take it through Gavin Broad's 2015 key to subfamilies and got to 4b.  The footnote says only one species of one of Aclastus and two of Gnypetomorpha should key here (though it doesn't say which species).  I can't find images of either that look like my insect, though I'm not sure if that's because there aren't many images online or if it's because I went wrong in the key (but it's very likely the latter - I find it very difficult to determine which veins are which, especially when the point is that they are missing).

unidentified ichneumon wasp, North Elmham, 16th July

Of 80 speies the following night just two were new for the year: Antler Moth and Lunar-spotted Pinion.

Antler Moth, North Elmham, 17th July

Lunar-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 17th July

The rest were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, 4 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella (and another Oegoconia sp. which I lost), London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Red-barred Tortrixes Ditula angustiorana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 96 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 8 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Drinker, 3 Blood-veins, 3 Least Carpets, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, July Highflyer, 5 Clouded Borders, Scorched Carpet, 6 Early Thorns, 2 Willow Beauties, Elephant Hawk-moth, Pale Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 3 Rosy Footmen, 8 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, 21 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 2 Ruby Tigers, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 4 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, 3 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic (and a Common Rustic agg. that escaped), 2 Dusky Sallows, Rosy Rustic, 18 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Silver Y, Beautiful Hook-tip and Snout.

Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, North Elmham, 17th July

There were also the mayflies Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum and Blue-winged Olive Serratella ignita, and caddisflies Plectrocnemia conspersa and Hydropsyche pellucidula.

I have tried on many occasions last year and this year to attract a Red-belted Clearwing to pheremone lure in the garden (and elsewhere).  It's not a common species in Norfolk and until recently the only records were from the Norwich area.  In the last couple of years with more people using pheremone lures more have turned up elsewhere with a few from the Brecks and quite a lot from the far west of the county, but there is still only one record at a similar latitude to North Elmham (Buxton Heath in 2016) and none further north in the county.  So having tried and failed so many times it began to seem reasonable to conclude that there aeren't any Red-belted Clearwings in this area.  But I'm not one to give up easily so I kept trying, and was absolutely delighted when I checked my pheremone trap on 18th July to find a single Red-belted Clearwing inside it.  Result!  Now if a Large Red-belted Clearwing could please oblige in the same way next year that would be perfect...

Red-belted Clearwing, North Elmham, 18th July

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

Abnormal Antler Moth and Barred Rivulet

This Antler Moth was new for the year on Friday 4th August.  There can be a bit of variation in the pattern of Antler Moths but I don't think I've ever seen one before that completely lacked the oval mark.  It was a bit worn but I don't think that can explain it - there are dark scales present in the place where you would normally expect to see a pale oval (just above the pale kidney mark that is present as normal).

Antler Moth, North Elmham, 4th August

Other moths trapped that night were House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 26 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Small Fan-footed Wave, Single-dotted Wave, 6 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, Phoenix, Currant Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scorched Carpet, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, Common Wave, 3 Dingy Footmen, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, White-point, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles and 12 Straw Dots.

Scorched Carpet, North Elmham, 4th August

Silver Y, North Elmham, 4th August

Another Licoris tripustulatus (mirid bug) was the most interesting other insect; a sub-imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum (mayfly) being the only other thing I recorded.

The following night was very poor - just 25 moths: Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 5 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Riband Waves, Willow Beauty, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, Buff Ermine, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spotted Clay, Common Rustic, Spectacle and 3 Straw Dots.

The best moth on 6th August was a Barred Rivulet, a species I saw here shortly after moving in in 2014 but hadn't seen anywhere since then.

Barred Rivulet, North Elmham, 6th August

Other moths were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 2 House Groundlings Bryotropha domestica, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 10 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Double-striped Pug, Coxcomb Prominent, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, White-point, Lesser Common Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Silver Y and 7 Straw Dots.

Among the caddisflies Ylodes conspersus was a new species for me and Lype phaeopa was new for the year.  There was also a Hydropsyche pellucidula along with Forest Bug and the sexton beetle Nicrophorus investigator.

Ylodes conspersus (female), North Elmham, 6th August

Lype phaeopa, North Elmham, 6th August

The following evening a wander round the local gravel pits looking for birds produced insects instead, some of which didn't bite me (although most did, it seemed).  Not many moths but among 3 Straw Dots was a tortrix which at first I took to be a Dichrorampha sp.  It was only when I went to dissect it a few weeks later and reviewed my photos that I realised it was something more interesting, and sure enough the dissection went on to confirm it - my first Pea Moth Cydia nigricana.

Pea Moth Cydia nigricana (male, gen det), Bittering, 7th August

This bug also proved to be a lifer - Plagiognathus chrysanthemi.

Plagiognathus chrysanthemi, Bittering, 7th August

A few interesting moths at home that night included a nice Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana and a Webb's Wainscot.

Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana, North Elmham, 7th August

Webb's Wainscot, North Elmham, 7th August

Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea was also new for the year and 3 Pale-streak Grass-veneers Agriphila selasela were notable.

Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, North Elmham, 7th August

Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, North Elmham, 7th August

Other moths were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 14 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 20 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Blood-vein, 4 Single-dotted Waves, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, Currant Pug, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Oak, Pale Prominent, 2 Dingy Footmen, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Rustic, Burnished Brass and 7 Straw Dots.

Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, North Elmham, 7th August

Beetles consisted of Bradycellus verbasci and my first identified Pterostichus niger.  3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum represented the mayflies while caddisflies included Ithytrichia lamellaris and Hydropsyche siltalai.

Pterostichus niger, North Elmham, 7th August