The end of 2018 - finishing with 614 moth species in the garden

By late November it's no surprise that mothing was slow, the garden trap producing the Winter Moth, 2 Chestnuts, Yellow-line Quaker and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus on 25th. Just 2 Winter Moths on 26th and Winter Moth, Scarce Umber and Limnephilus lunatus on 27th.

It was a bit better on 28th with Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, Mottled Umber, White-point, Chestnut, the caddisflies 3 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus vittatus and the mirid bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Another Dark Sword-grass was the highlight on 29th November, my second in a few days but only my third here since moving in in 2014.  The only other moths that night were Winter Moth and White-point.  There was also the springtail 'Entomobrya intermedia' (in inverted commas because the Hopkin key seems to think this is just a form of Entomobrya nivalis rather than a distinct species).

Dark Sword-grass, North Elmham, 29th November

'Entomobrya intermedia', North Elmham, 29th November

Only one moth the following night, but a Scarce Umber is always nice.

There was a selection of bits and pieces in the trap to kick off December: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, 2 Mottled Umbers, 2 Chestnuts, the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, 8 of the mirid bugs Pinalitus cervinus and the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi. Potentially better than any of those was a psyllid that got away before I could examine it.

With a relatively mild night on 2nd December I had another torch-lit wander round the meadows and found a nice variety of things.  I found at least 40 Winter Moths (including 3 mating pairs) but no other adult moths. A cluster of eggs was eventually identified (thanks to some help from people on Twitter) as belonging to Vapourer moth.

pair of Winter Moths, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Vapourer eggs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Most of the above were on Oak tree trunks and this was also where I found a couple of bugs: Deraeocoris lutescens and my first Cardiastethus fasciiventris.  There were also 3 Great Four-spot Treerunners (beetles) Dromius quadrimaculatus and 20 Oak Apple Gall Wasps Biorhiza pallida.

Cardiastethus fasciiventris, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

I found 3 rove beetles including a mating pair.  I left the latter to their business but examined the lone individual to identify it - it proved to be Tasgius ater, the first time I've identified this species.

Tasgius ater, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Other things I found included 2 Broom Psyllids Arytaina genistae, 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, 4 Lace-weave Spiders Amaurobius similis*, Irish Yellow Slug Limacus maculatus and at least 2 Common Rough Woodlice Porcellio scaber.   *Theoretically these could have been Amaurobius fenestralis, but if I understand correctly the habitat was better for similis.

Broom Psyllid Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

presumed Lace-weave Spider Amaurobius similis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Irish Yellow Slug Limacus maculatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

The moths at home that night were Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, Scarce Umber, and Chestnut.  There was also the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis, the barkflies Ectopsocus briggsi and Valenzuela flavidus, an Edwardsiana leafhopper and a new leafhopper for the garden, Aphrodes makarovi.

Aphrodes makarovi, North Elmham, 2nd December

The following night there was just a Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and then on 4th just a Common Earwig Forficula auricularia. On 5th there were 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 3 Mottled Umbers and 5 of the mirid bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Next day there was -winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Winter Moth, the caddisfly Limnephilus auricula, 2 mirid bugs Pinalitus cervinus and 2 Common Heart-shields (beetles) Nebria brevicollis. There was also a female Acericerus leafhopper but I don't know of a reliable way of distinguishing females of this genus. Whichever it was, it would be new for the garden.

Acericerus sp., North Elmham, 6th December

Just 1 Winter Moth the following night and then things got really slow with nothing at all on many nights.  There was a Dark Chestnut on 9th, another springtail Entomobrya intermedia-type on 12th, Mottled Umber on 13th and 4 Winter Moths on 14th.

On 15th I joined the Norfolk Fungus Study Group at Bawdeswell Heath for a very interesting fungus foray.  54 species of fungi were recorded, though I didn't attempt to see all of them, preferring to take notes on the ones I did see and photograph as I figured I would learn more that way.  I still managed around 33 species.  Here are a few of them:

fungus on fungus: Ochre Cushion (the dark bits) growing on Birch Polypore (the bracket fungus), Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Candlesnuff Fungus, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Conifercone Cap - growing on a conifer cone, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Olive Oysterling, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Phacidium multivalve (the bigger spots on the LH leaf) and Holly Speckle (the finer spots on the RH leaf), Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Signs of moths included a Mottled Umber, the mine of Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea and feeding signs of Shaded Case-bearers Coleophora potentillae (a species I have never seen).

There were 3 Winter Moths in the trap on 16th along with this springtail, a new species for me, Vertagopus arboreus.

Vertagopus arboreus, North Elmham, 16th December

I found the leafmine of Golden Pigmy Stigmella aurella, and a 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, at the meadows on 17th.

leafmine of Golden Pigmy Stigmella aurella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th December

I was a little bit surprised to find what I believe is Sweet Violet flowering, quite unseasonal I think.

Sweet Violet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th December

There were a few more moths at home that night, with Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 7 Winter Moths and 3 Mottled Umbers.

Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th December

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 17th December

The following night saw a return to normal for this time of year, one moth, a Mottled Umber.  There were 2 Winter Moths and a 7-spot Ladybird on 19th, 3 Winter Moths and 4 Mottled Umbers on 20th, single Winter Moth and Mottled Umber on 21st and 2 Winter Moths on 22nd.

Fungi at the meadows on 22nd included Yellow Brain and both the species that produce speckling on Holly leaves, Phacidium multivalve and Holly Speckle Trochila ilicina.

Yellow Brain, North Elmham, 22nd December

I was away for a few days over Christmas and the days I was here there wasn't much happening.  But there was something in the moth trap on 28th December - an aphid.  I tentatively identified it as Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, an ID that seemed fairly likely in view of the proximity of my moth-trap to some Hellebores.  This was confirmed later on 29th when I found a colony of them on the underside of the Hellebore leaves.

Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, North Elmham, 28th December

Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, North Elmham, 29th December

There was a Mottled Umber in the trap on 29th and then on 30th there were 2 Viburnum Buttons Acleris schalleriana, Winter Moth, Mottled Umber and Dark Chestnut. The Acleris were the finale of a fantastic year for this species - I ended up with 11 individuals which isn't bad considering there haven't been that many seen in the entire county in any previous year.

A 7-spot Ladybird was the only insect noted at the meadows on New Year's Eve but there was a nice bit of Dog's Sick Slime Mould...

Dog's Sick Slime Mould, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st December

Also some Mint Mildew Neoerysiphe galeopsidis.  As usual, thanks to James Emerson for assistance with these.

Mint Mildew Neoerysiphe galeopsidis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st December

Finally, for 2018 at least, that night the garden moth trap delivered Ashy Button Acleris sparsana and 3 Winter Moths.

I finished the year with 614 moth species trapped in the garden, higher than 2017 (598 in the end, a bit more than I reported at the time as I had missed some off) but not as high as in 2016 (627).   They consisted of 310 micros and 304 macros.

Brindled Green and a few other autumnal insects

I didn't catch many moths on 21st September but one of them was a Brindled Green, my first and only example in 2018.  It's actually a pretty good moth here - only my fourth since moving in in 2014, recorded every other year.

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 21st September

The other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Beaded Chestnut, 11 Lunar Underwings and Snout. There wasn't much else either - the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus and the barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi.

Next day a visit to the Cathedral Meadows produced a few bits and pieces.  A rather attractive shiny green fly turned out to be a Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus.  The pair of pale spots on the face that give it its name aren't especially obvious if you're not looking for them, though easy enough to see when you do.

Twin-spot Centurion Sargus pipunctatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

This leafhopper proved to be Edwardsiana rosae.

Edwardsiana rosae (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

I've updated this page to show a revised ID for this aphid.  At the time I didn't have very good information and I tentatively identified it as something entirely different.  Now (in May 2019) I realise it was a Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis.

Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

Moths consisted of 2 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella and a Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

A little shake of a bunch of ash keys was productive.  The invertebrates that fell out included a new beetle for me, a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

Cabbage-stem Leaf Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

There were also 4 Common Earwigs, 2 caddisflies, both Limnephilus lunatus, 4 7-spot Ladybirds, a spider that I think was probably an immature Philodromus aureolus and the psyllid Psyllopsis fraxinicola.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

Philodromus sp., possibly Philodromus aureolus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

That night at home there was an unremarkable selection of moths: 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Common Wainscot, 24 Lunar Underwings, 2 Sallows and 2 Snouts.

There were also 2 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis and 7 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies), the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and the beetle Aphodius rufipes.

Strong winds the following night meant for a distinct lack of variety in the moth trap: just Large Yellow Underwing, 25 Lunar Underwings and Pink-barred Sallow.

It was even worse on 24th with just 1 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and 10 Lunar Underwings.

A little better the next night with 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Small Dusty Wave, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Beaded Chestnut and 15 Lunar Underwings. There were also a few caddisflies again that night: Ithytrichia lamellaris, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 2 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus lunatus.

Next day at the meadows there was a Southern Hawker, a 7-spot Ladybird and 2 Harlequin Ladybirds.  I found 3 Willow Flea Beetles Crepidodera aurata on the White Willow and a female (and thus unidentifiable) Edwardsiana leafhopper on some Dogwood.

Southern Hawker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

There were 2 more Arytaina genistae in the Broom.

Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

I think this spider that was also in the Broom was Tetragnatha montana.

Tetragnatha montana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

This spider was in the Black Horehound.  I couldn't make out any epigynal or palpal features to confirm it but Dyctina arundinacea seems to be the best fit, especially in view of its dark-tipped tarsal segments.  Not a speices I've identified before.

Dyctina arundinacea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

Moths at home that night consisted of Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Riband Waves, Mallow, Green Carpet, Ruby Tiger, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 16 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Snouts.

There was the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg. and Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus were the caddisflies.  Other bits and pieces included the beetle Aphodius rufipes, the hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus and a Hornet.

A few interesting insects at the meadows

Southern Hawker, 2 Speckled Woods, Field Grasshopper, Hornet and Common Carder Bee were among the insects seen at the meadows on the afternoon of 1st September.  There was also a new froghopper for me, Neophilaenus lineatus.

Neophilaenus lineatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

Shaking ash keys produced a few more including Common Green Capsid Lygocoris pabulinus, a Common Green Shieldbug, a 7-spot Ladybird, a small black ichneumid that is probably Gelis agilis and 5 Common Earwigs (including a juvenile which I retained in the hope that I could string it into one of the smaller earwig species - I failed but it was interesting to see it had moulted into an adult by the following day).

Common Green Capsid Lygocoris pabulinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

Common Green Shieldbug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

probable Gelis agilis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

Common Earwig, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st-2nd September (before and after moult)

A quick sweep of some Broom also produced a few bits and pieces including another spider that I think was Xysticus cristatus (another presumed immature female) and two new bugs for me, Orthotylus concolor, and Broom Psyllid Arytaina genistae.  The latter was to prove very common here, with lots more records over the following months.

Orthotylus concolor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

Broom Psyllid Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st September

I remainded out until it got dark and most of the following moths were found in torchlight: 2 White-headed Ermines Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Blood-vein, Green Carpet, Double-striped Pug, 3 Brimstone Moths, 6 Square-spot Rustics, Angle Shades and 4 Snouts.

 That night an Old Lady was the best moth at home, the only one I recorded last year (and there were none the year before).  Other moths were Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Blood-veins, Single-dotted Wave, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Yellow Shells, Light Emerald, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, Common Wainscot, 2 Flounced Rustics and 2 Frosted Oranges.

Old Lady, North Elmham, 1st September

Caddisflies consisted of 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 2 Small Silver Sedges Lepidostoma hirtum, 2 Limnephilus auricula, 8 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus marmoratus. Other things included the brown lacewing Hemerobius lutescens, the bug Phytocoris tiliae, the beetle Aphodius rufipes, a Hornet and a Common Frog.

Phytocoris tiliae, North Elmham, 1st September

The following night the garden moth trap produced Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, Green Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Centre-barred Sallow, 4 Flounced Rustics and 2 Straw Dots. Also the mayfly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, 3 caddisflies, all Limnephilus lunatus and a Hornet.

A walk round the meadows on 3rd didn't end up with many records but some good ones.  A Maple Midget Phyllonorycter acerifoliella was only my second record ever (though slightly disapppointing as I was sure it was my first having completely forgotten about one I apparently saw at Creaking Gate Lake in 2013!).

Maple Midget Phyllonorycter acerifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September

More unexpected were a number of other small white moths seen in flight.  I netted four of them, from two different meadows, and all four were Poplar Bent-wings Phyllocnistis unipunctella.  It's a species I don't see very often (have only ever seen three times) and I wouldn't expect to see such numbers away from poplars.  Well in fact there is a stand of poplars about 300m away from the north-east corner of the meadows, about 400m away from the furthest of these moths, so this is presumably where they had all come from.

Poplar Bent-wings Phyllocnistis unipunctella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September

There was a Mottled Grasshopper calling, the only record I had of this species at the meadows last year (though I didn't search for grasshoppers very rigorously).  There were 2 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings) and 2 Valenzuela flavidus (barkflies) on sycamore keys, Lygus pratensis (a mirid bug) and Harlequin Ladybird in ash keys, and a female Edwardsiana leafhopper (most likely Edwardsiana rosae) at some cherry.  Also a Muntjac across the river.