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

Knot Grass, Cherry Bark and Chocolate

The highlight on 14th August was my second ever Knot Grass, exactly one year after my first (also here).

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 14th August

Also new for the year were Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana and Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana.

 Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, North Elmham, 14th August

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, North Elmham, 14th August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 41 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, 4 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 18 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella and Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis.

The other macros were Orange Swift, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, Small Blood-vein, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 22 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Maple Pug, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 11 Willow Beauties, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Ruby Tiger, 10 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 5 Flame Shoulders, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 15 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spotted Clays, Six-striped Rustic, Lychnis, Antler Moth, White-point, 2 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 3 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, 3 Uncertains, Dark Spectacle and 2 Straw Dots.


Next day I was birding at Burnham Overy and scored some lepidoptera while I was at it... Six species of butterfly included Grayling, 2 Wall Browns and Painted Lady, while moths included at least 15 Spindle Ermines Yponomeuta cagnagella and a Yellow Shell.

Among the moths at home on 15th only one was new for the year, and that a very common species: Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 15th August

But there were some good moths too.  My first ever Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana was just a few weeks ago and tonight got me my second.  Like the first it wasn't the freshest of individuals so I still look forward to a proper fresh one, stunning as they look to be from the photos.  This one was worn enough that I decided it was safest to dissect it just to make sure I'd got it right.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 15th August

A Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis was pretty late - they normally fly between May and mid July, peaking in June.  There are a handful of later records and as this was quite worn I assume it was just a late flying individual rather than a second generation.

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 15th August

The rest were Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 11 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 31 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, 2 Chinese Characters, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Tawny Speckled Pug, Scalloped Oak, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Pebble Prominents, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Dingy Footman, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Flame Shoulder, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 6 Six-striped Rustics, Antler Moth, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, 3 Flounced Rustics, Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 15th August

Next evening (16th) was much quieter: just Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 8 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, Square-spot Rustic and 6 Flounced Rustics.

Chocolate-tip, North Elmham, 16th August

Scotland moths (well, an Earwig anyway)

I didn't do a post covering my last night before heading off on hols, but that was because there were hardly any moths: White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Common Swift, 2 Green Carpets, Small Square-spot and Hebrew Character.

Saturday night was spent at my parents' in Keswick.  On arrival I hand-caught a Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla in their front garden but it was a cold wet night so I didn't expect much in the trap.  On the other hand it was cloudy, and there were breaks in the rain, so I did hope for more than big fat zero.  But that's exactly what I found in the trap at dawn.  The night was saved by a nice Small Phoenix on the wall along with a Nut-tree Tussock.

I chose a holiday cottage in Braemar partly because the garden looked good for moths.  Sadly I couldn't choose weather that was good for moths and after a night with temperatures that had already dropped to 4 degrees a couple of hours before dusk it wasn't a huge surprise to find absolutely no moths in the trap on Sunday night.

The rest of the four-night stay was dominated by wind, rain and very cold night-time temperatures - on the last morning at dawn my car thermometer recorded minus 2.5 degrees!  Tuesday night produced the only moth in the trap - a single Garden Carpet.  Potentially more interesting was an earwig in the trap... all the earwigs I have ever attempted to identify in the past have proven to be Common Earwigs but this one was much smaller.  A Lesser Earwig perhaps, but most pictures show males and I think this one is a female.  If it is a Lesser Earwig then it would appear to be a noteworthy record - the distribution map in the new insects book doesn't show them extending up anywhere near so far north though the National Biodiversity Network map shows a few dots on the map for Scotland including up the Aberdeenshire coast, so it doesn't seem unfeasible that the species is present here too.  However, I would like to know for sure if this is the correct ID or not - does anyone know how to do Earwigs?  I have the specimen if it helps!

unidentified Earwig, Braemar, 2nd June

Garden Carpet, Braemar, 2nd June

Wednesday afternoon was relatively warm and sunny (between the heavy showers and despite the brisk breeze) and Vitty and I had a walk up from Linn of Dee.  I managed to find a few moths including 2-3 Common Heaths.  

Common Heath, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Quite a few largish moths which seemed to have a bit of colour on them whizzed around the heather but I couldn't get near them with the net and they remained unidentified.  Vitty saw one moth land and I managed to catch it - whether it was the same as the others or not I have no idea, but this one was an Early Thorn.  I could conceive that the others were too, but odd to see them flying in the daytime like this if they were.  

Early Thorn, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

I also netted a Narrow-winged Pug and a Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana.

Narrow-winged Pug, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Back in the car park at dusk I netted another Early Thorn, which turned out to be my last moth of the holiday.

The only other insect-news from the holiday were Stoneflies... a whole order of insects that I had not previously encountered.  One or two species do occur in Norfolk but most like fast-running rivers with rocky banks which isn't really the sort of habitat one comes across in Norfolk very often.  In Scotland I found two (probably a whole load more in flight, but two that I got a good look at).  One at Linn of Dee and the other at Balmoral, which appear to be Common Small Yellow Sally Siphonoperla torrentium.  There are a couple of other similar species apparently, and I've no idea how similar, so perhaps this ID should be regarded as tentative.

probable Common Small Yellow Sally Siphonoperla torrentium, Braemar, 2nd June