Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Argents (Argyresthiidae)

ARGENTS (ARGYRESTHIIDAE)

Some of these are stunning and highly distinctive while others can be extremely tricky to identify, even after reference to their genitalia.  I sometimes have to leave them unidentified, and at least two caught in my garden trap in 2019 were not resolved.


Triple-barred Argent Argyresthia trifasciata - One in the garden moth trap on 20th May 2019 was only my second record here following one in May 2018, but 2020 smashed it with 5 between 18th May and 9th June (including 3 on 21st May).

Triple-barred Argent Argyresthia trifasciata, North Elmham, 20th May 2019

Triple-barred Argent Argyresthia trifasciata, North Elmham, 18th May 2020

Juniper Argent Argyresthia dilectella - None.  I've recorded this species here twice (2016 and 2017).


Cypress-tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella -  3 in the garden trap between 1st and 7th June 2019 and 2 in 2020 (22nd May and 14th June).  2-3 a year is typical since the neighbours chopped down the big cypress hedge that bordered our property (which I wasn't at all sad to see go).  Prior to that there were 8-9 a year.


Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella - One in the garden trap on 29th June 2019.  I have 1-2 here most years but none in 2020.  One at Bintree Wood in 2020, on 24th July.

Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella - Totals of 15 in my garden trap between 23rd July and 27th August 2019 and 14 between 31st July and 3rd September 2020.  Numbers here vary greatly from one year to the next with annual totals varying from 3 to 32.  Also one at Swanton Great Wood in August 2019.

Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Sallow Argent Argyresthia pygmaeella - None.  I've never seen this species but there must be a chance of finding it locally.


Brindled Argent Argyresthia curvella - None.  I've recorded this species here just once (2017).


Netted Argent Argyresthia retinella - One in the garden trap on 21st July 2019 was only my second here following one in 2017.  It was in a very worn state and its identification was assisted by examination of its genitalia. None in 2020.

female Netted Argent Argyresthia retinella, North Elmham, 21st July 2019

Oak-bark Argent Argyresthia glaucinella - Caught in my garden trap on 23rd and 26th June 2020.  My only previous record of this species was a worn example in my garden in 2015 although after taking advice about that one's genitalia I decided not to formally submit it as their genitalic differences are rather subtle.  Based on a combination of internal and external appearance I personally felt sufficiently satisfied about the ID for my own notes but not for the official record.  The 2020 records were fresher, and together with my improved dissection skills, I think these are ok to record formally.

male Oak-bark Argent Argyresthia glaucinella, North Elmham, 23rd June 2020

female Oak-bark Argent Argyresthia glaucinella, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Blackthorn Argent Argyresthia spinosella - None.  I've only recorded this species here once, in 2018, although some of the unidentified Argyresthia that I've not been able to resolve may have been this species.


Apple-fruit Moth Argyresthia conjugella - None.  This is another species I have recorded here on just one occasion, in 2015.


Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca - One in the garden trap on 29th July 2019.  This species is not quite annual here although I had 5 in 2018.  None in 2020.

Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, North Elmham, 29th July 2019

Cherry-fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella - Singles in my garden trap on 23rd and 29th July 2019 and 3 between 29th June and 7th September 2020.  This species is just about annual here though 1-2 is typical (4 in 2018).  Also singles at the meadows on 26th July and 25th August.

Cherry Fruit-moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Cherry Fruit-moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 29th June 2020

Cherry Fruit-moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 7th September 2020

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella - One here on 4th August 2019.  I seem to get 1-2 here every other year and true to form, none in 2020.

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham, 4th August 2019

Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria - 3 in the garden trap between 31st July and 1st August 2020.  2019 was my first blank year here since moving in in 2014 (though I had more than 2 in a year prior to 2020).

Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria, North Elmham, 5th August 2020

Large Beech Argent Argyresthia semitestacella - None.  I've never found this species, or at least if I have I've never positively identified it (it was a good contender for a worn Argyresthia I caught on 23rd September 2019 but even after examining the genitalia I couldn't rule out a couple of other species - perhaps when I'm better informed about the genitalic differences I will be able to return to this and confirm it one way or the other).


Next page: Lyonetiidae plus

Tricky truncicollela

The highlight on Monday 28th August a Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, a migrant species and new for the year.

Rush Venner Nomophila noctuella, North Elmham, 28th August

Also new for the year was this Svensson's Copper Underwing.

Svensson's Copper Underwing (male, gen det), North Elmham, 28th August

Otherwise it was a marginal improvement on the previous couple of nights but fairly mediocre: Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Apple/Orchard/Spindle Ermine agg. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella agg., Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Chinese Characters, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Brimstone Moths, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, 5 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 6 Square-spot Rustics, 6 Common Wainscots, Mouse Moth, 6 Flounced Rustics, Straw Dot, Snout and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Three mayflies were all different species, though the commonest species here: Lake Olive Cloeon simile, Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum and Blue-winged Olive Serratella ignita.  A variety of caddisflies consisted of Oxyethira flavicornis, 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, 4 Hydropsyche pellucidula and another Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum.   There were also 3 Birch Shieldbugs, 5 Forest Bugs and 2 Aphodius rufipes.

Next day I found Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella and the leafhopper Kleidocerys resedae inside the house.  There were 2 more new moths for the year that night, Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria and Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps.

Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria, North Elmham, 29th August

Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps, North Elmham, 29th August

The male genitalia of Eudonia truncicolella and Eudonia mercurella are rather similar to one another but the two moths' outward appearance is so different this does not usually present a problem.  I am usually dissecting mercurella to separate from lacustrata and truncicolella to separate from one of the other larger species, not to separate them from one another.  I often dissect mercurella from home but so far have not had any candidates for truncicolella at home (they seem to be common on heathlands but not so much in garden habitat).  A Eudonia sp. trapped this night was retained as it was too worn to identify with confidence and when I went to dissect it I noticed it seemed to have that scratchy coarsely-marked appearance I associate more with truncicolla (shared with Scoparia basistrigalis to some degree but that's easy to eliminate on dissection if not before) - might this be my first garden truncicollela?  Well the genitalia confirmed we were dealing with Eudonia and taking other factors into account mercurella and truncicolella are the only feasible options.  What's left of the wing pattern seems to me to be a better fit for truncicolella than mercurella, but given how worn it is I am not confident.  Size would often be a help here but though this is comfortably in range for truncicolella it's also within range for a large mercurella.  You can separate murana from truncicolella by the presence or absence of a hamus, a little structure near the base of the forewing.  This lacked a hamus like truncicollela but I can't find any references that say whether mercurella should have a hamus or not.  I could check this myself when I trap some more but that probably won't be until next year now.  It's a bit on the late side for mercurella but there are still truncicollela flying - however it's not too late for mercurella.  All things considered I regard this as a possible Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella, but I am not certain enough to add it to my garden list yet.  Maybe in due course I will be able to find suffiicient differences in the genitalia to enable a confident ID and then, or if I ever find mercurella does have a hamus, I might be able to retrospectively record it, but for now I shall await a fresher specimen or a female.

 possible Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella, North Elmham, 29th August

Although I didn't get a positive ID out of this the experience has taught me one thing that's useful.  I was under the impression that murana was a north-western species that would be highly unlikely to occur in Norfolk.  I also thought that they were a bit more obviously different than they really are (judging by some photos I have now seen) and so haven't ever bothered critically checking specimens of truncicolella to eliminate murana.  In researching this moth I find that there is a record of murana from Suffolk and a suggestion on the Suffolk Moths website that the species is "probably not very rare".  If that's really the case in Suffolk then it's probably true in Norfolk too (though no records to date), so I should probably be looking at truncicolella more carefully in future.

Other moths were 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Chinese Characters, 4 Blood-veins, 2 Small Dusty Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, Currant Pug, Treble-bar, 7 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 7 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, Flame Shoulder, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 15 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Feathered Gothic, 9 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, Straw Underwing, 9 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 2 Vine's Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, Straw Dot, 7 Snouts and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, North Elmham, 29th August

Mayflies consisted of 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and a Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum.  A good selection of caddisflies too: 2 Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Hydropsyche siltalai, 9 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Grammotaulius nigropunctatus, Limnephilus auricula, 9 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus marmoratus.  Also 3 Aphodius rufipes (dung-beetles).

The following night was quite poor: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Blood-vein, 2 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 11 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, 9 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Straw Dot and Snout; also the caddisflies  Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Limnephilus marmoratus.

The next night wasn't much better: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brimstone Moth, Common White Wave, 5 Light Emeralds, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, 3 Square-spot Rustics, 3 Common Wainscots, 9 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics and Snout; also 3 Limnephilus lunatus (caddis) and Aphodius rufipes (beetle).

September kicked off with my first Centre-barred Sallow of the year.

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham, 1st September

Again not a huge catch that night: 5 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chinese Character, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Green Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Engrailed, 4 Light Emeralds, Poplar Hawk-moth, Large Yellow Underwing, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 7 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, 9 Flounced Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, 3 Snouts, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Limnephilus lunatus and Aphodius rufipes.

Next day I was at Minsmere where in addition to Small Copper and Common Blue butterflies we found a Frosted Orange feeding on Fleabane and a Copper Underwing in the Bittern hide.  Moths in the garden that night consisted of 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Double-striped Pug, Light Emerald, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Square-spot Rustics and 12 Flounced Rustics.

Small Red-eyed Damsels on the patch and two new moths for the house

Had a look round the patch on 21st August, primarily for birds but also for insects.  At Hell Pit the latter included Banded Demoiselle and Southern Hawker representing the dragonflies, Green-veined White, Common Blue, 5 Meadow Browns and 4 Speckled Woods representing the butterflies, Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella and Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis representing the moths, and a Harlequin Ladybird.

The nearby gravel workings produced fewer insects but a few damselflies at the edge of a pool there.  Most were Common Blue Damselflies but among them were at least 9 Small Red-eyed Damselflies, the first time I've seen this species on the patch.

Small Red-eyed Damselflies, Bittering, 21st August

The other end of the patch isn't much good at the moment so only stopped briefly - one Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis was the only insect I noted.

That night was a bit of an improvement on the moth front compared to recent days.  Two species were new for the house - my second ever Long-winged Shade Cnephasia longana and a Triple-spotted Pug.

Long-winged Shade Cnephasia longana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 21st August

Triple-spotted Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 21st August

Also new for the year was this Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria.

Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria, North Elmham, 21st August

Other moths were Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Orange Swifts, Riband Wave, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Green Carpet, 3 Yellow-barred Brindles, 11 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, Dingy Footman, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 6 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Six-striped Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, Dark Arches, Common Rustic, 3 Flounced Rustics and 11 Straw Dots.

Other insects included the Green Lacewing Cunctochrysa albolineata, caddisflies Glyphotaelius pellucidus (2) and Limnephilus rhombicus; also Forest Bug (Red-legged Shieldbug) and Harlequin Ladybird.

Another day, another lifer

14th July was another good night with 461 moths of 111 species.  Among them was a Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana, a new moth for me.

Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana, North Elmham, 14th July

I included mention of Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella in my previous post covering 13th July.  Wondered why I couldn't find any photos in my folder for 13th July - turns out I entered the date incorrectly in my databse, it was actually on 14th July.  So here it is...

Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella, North Elmham, 14th July

Again several species were new for the year, at least for the garden: 2 Purple Argents Argyresthia albistria, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis heparana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Gold Triangles Hypsopygia costalis, Drinker, Lesser Cream Wave, Brown Scallop, 2 Small Rivulets, Turnip Moth, Miller, Marbled Beauty and Ear Moth.

Purple Argents Argyresthia albistria, North Elmham, 14th July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 14th July

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, North Elmham, 14th July

Drinker, North Elmham, 14th July

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 14th July

Brown Scallop, North Elmham, 14th July

Turnip Moth, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Beauty, North Elmham, 14th July

Ear Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

The other macros were Leopard Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Small Blood-vein, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 15 Riband Waves, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, 2 July Highflyers, 4 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, Peppered Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Common White Wave, Common Wave, 6 Clouded Silvers, 4 Elephant Hawkmoths, 3 Yellow-tails, 5 Round-winged Muslins, 6 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dingy Footmen, 6 Scarce Footmen, 35 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, 7 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Shears, 4 Dot Moths, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 2 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 19 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 3 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, 16 Snouts, 4 Fan-foots and Dotted Fan-foot. 

 Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 14th July

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 14th July

July Highflyers, North Elmham, 14th July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 14th July

Grey Dagger (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

The other micros were Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella, 19 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 4 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Grey Tortrices Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 8 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 63 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 14 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 7 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 17 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 6 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 5 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, 5 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 7 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella and 5 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, North Elmham, 14th July

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 14th July

Not sure if I would have identified this correctly without dissecting it.  The pale infilled crosses look more lacustrata to me, altjough other features point towards mercurella.

Small Grey Eudonia mercurella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

This Brown Chafer was my first at North Elmham:

Brown Chafer, North Elmham, 14th July