Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Erebids (Erebidae) part 3: Fan-foots, Small Snouts, Beautiful Hook-tip and Red Underwings

EREBIDS (EREBIDAE) (continued)


Dotted Fan-foot Macrochilo cribrumalis - Trapped in the garden on 25th June 2020 and 2nd July, the first I'd caught here since 3 in 2015-16.  Elsewhere one at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020 and 3 at the meadows on 18th/23rd June 2020.

Dotted Fan-foot, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Dotted Fan-foot, North Elmham, 25th June 2020

Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis - A total of 41 here between 24th June and 26th July 2019 was my worst year here but 2020 made it look good by returning just 16 between 19th June and 23rd July.  An average year here is 60.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and one at Hellesdon.

Fan-foot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis - I'd caught 54 here in my first 4 years 2015-18 with annual totals ranging from 8 to 24, so it was a bit of a shocker to have a completely blank year in 2019 followed by just a single one (on 26th June) in 2020.


Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis - Singles trapped here on 4 nights between 30th August and 24th September 2019 and on 20th August 2020.  I've had 3-6 here in each of the last 4 years but had a blank year in 2015.  Elsewhere one at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019 and 4 in Cornwall on 6th/7th October 2020.


Blackneck Lygephila pastinum - None.  I was due a blank year or two after catching one, but only ever one, in each year between 2015 and 2018.


Waved Black Parascotia fuliginaria - None.  I've never seen this species and it's never been recorded round here, but it seems to be increasing in south Norfolk so it's perhaps just a matter of time before it turns up round here.  Hope so anyway.


Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula - Totals of 17 here between 23rd June and 24th July 2019 followed by 3 autumn records between 9th and 25th September, then 22 between 12th June and 30th July 2020.  Although the 3 in September 2019 represented my best ever autumn showing the overall totals of 20 and 22 were my worst in the 6 years I've been here - I had been averaging 50 a year.  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows, one at Bintree Wood and 2 at Weybourne.

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina - None.  I've never seen this species and until very recently it didn't seem particularly likely that I would see one in Norfolk.  After the first in Norfolk in 2016 there were 5 in 2018, 5 in 2019 and then 30 in 2020.  Given the spread of records and some repeated records of fresh individuals at inland locations it is impossible to conclude that these are all migrants - the species is clearly breeding in the county now.  Currently all the records are north or east of a line curving round from Dersingham across to Stibbard and down to Tasburgh.  I'm only just on the wrong side of that line so if things carry on going the way they've started then it won't be long before I catch one too.  Bring it on!!!


Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini - None.  I've never seen one but rather like the previous species it's only the last couple of years that it has felt like I have anything more than an outside chance of finding one.  Compared to the last species there were a few more old historic records of migrants but the very recent colonisation follows a pattern that's uncannily similar except that there are a few records in the south-west quarter of the county too.  I'm very much looking forward to my first...


Red Underwing Catocala nupta - None in 2019 but 4 between 11th and 26th August 2020.  I have only ever caught 3 in my moth trap here, one in 2014 and 2 together in 2016, but in 2020 I started using sugar.

Red underwing, North Elmham, 11th August 2020

Red underwing, North Elmham, 26th August 2020

Dark Crimson Underwing Catocala sponsa - None.  Another former rare migrant that's very recently colonised the county.  Hopefully they will become a permanent fixture here and it won't be long before one finds its way to my sugar mix...


Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica - None.  In Norfolk this species is largely restrited to the Brecks but there are a few records elsewhere.  As a day-flying species I'm not expecting to catch one in the garden but there is perhaps a small chance of me finding it at the meadows one day.


Mother Shipton Euclidia mi - None.  Another day-flying species that I don't particularly expect to catch at home but unlike the previous species there are a lot of records across Norfolk and away from the Brecks (although the Brecks is its stronghold).  It's not yet been recorded in this 10km square but I've had it this side of Beetley and I imagine it's quite likely to occur even more locally.


Next page: Noctuidae

Thatch Neb and Satyr Pug

The night of 18th June was another good one with 13 new moths for the year including a couple of good ones.  The latter were Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (all Norfolk records up to this point were from my garden, though I see Dave Jones had one in Stoke Holy Cross in August) and Satyr Pug.

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 18th June

Satyr Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th June

The other new moths for the year were Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, 3 Common Emeralds, Barred Straw, Small Yellow Wave, Double Square-spot and Beautiful Hook-tip.

Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, North Elmham, 18th June

Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, North Elmham, 18th June

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 18th June - complete with a tick hanging off the side of its face!

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, North Elmham, 18th June

Small Yellow Wave, North Elmham, 18th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 18th June

The rest of the moths brought the total species count to 76 - actually not all that remarkable for the second half of June but probably the best here this year.  The others were Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 4 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Brindled Tortrix Ptycholoma lecheana, Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, 8 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 17 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Barred Yellow, 2 Green Carpets, Common Pug, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, Tawny-barred Angle, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, 9 Clouded Silvers, 3 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, 3 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, 5 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 4 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Marbled Minor, 2 Tawny Marbled Minors, 6 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, 2 Uncertains, 3 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, 38 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and Fan-foot.

It must have been a good night for ticks with the one hanging off the face of the Clepsis spectrana above and this one hanging off the face of a Elachista canapella.  No idea if ticks on moths are host-specific - I guess not but if they are then they're probably quite rare.

Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella and tick, North Elmham, 18th June

The only lacewing was Dichochrysa prasina, new for the year, and there was also just one mayfly, a Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.

Dichochrysa prasina, North Elmham, 18th June

Other insects included the caddisflies Agraylea multipunctata (new for the year), Limnephilus lunatus, Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the mirid bugs Orthotylus tenellus (2), Psallus perrisi and Psallus varians, the leafhopper Oncopsis subangulata, the soldier beetles Cantharis cryptica and Cantharis decipiens and a new weevil for the garden, Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus.

Agraylea multipunctata (female), North Elmham, 18th June

Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus, North Elmham, 18th June

Anania fuscalis for the third year

Had a look round Lolly Moor with Dave on Sunday 11th June (I know, I'm falling way behind again... will hopefully start catching up now the summer peak has passed).  For the third year running we had several Cinereous Pearls Anania fuscalis - the only site this species is currently known to occur at in Norfolk.  There was a record from near Attleborough in the mid 90s but our records at Lolly Moor over the last three years are the only others in Norfolk since the 1800s.  I can't believe the species isn't present at other sites - worth checking other damp meadows with Yellow Rattle growing.

We also recorded Large Long-horn Nematopogon swammerdamella, Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, 3 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana, White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, probable Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana (had a pale hindwing but was quite worn so perhaps not safe to go on that feature; cirsiana occurs here as well and has similar genitalia) and 5 Grass Rivulets.

Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, Lolly Moor, 11th June

Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana, Lolly Moor, 11th June

probable Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana, Lolly Moor, 11th June

Dave passed me this moth which he'd caught at home (Toftwood) for me to check - it was a Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana, a species only recorded in Norfolk half a dozen times.

Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana, Toftwood, 10th June

Moths at home on the night of 11th included Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Oak Hook-tip, Dark Arches and Beautiful Hook-tip all new for the year.

Small Grey Eudonia mercurella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th June

Oak Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th June

Dark Arches, North Elmham, 11th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th June

Other moths were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Common Swifts, 2 Currant Pugs, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Mottled Beauties, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 10 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 5 Ingrailed Clays, Small Square-spot, Lychnis, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Marbled Minor, 2 Middle-barred Minors, Uncertain, 3 Mottled Rustics, 4 Straw Dots and Snout.

Other insects in the trap included the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus and the bug Phylus palliceps which was new for the year.

Phylus palliceps, North Elmham, 11th June

New for the year the following night were Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Large Yellow Underwing, Clay and Smoky Wainscot.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 12th June

Large Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 12th June

Clay, North Elmham, 12th June

Smoky Wainscot, North Elmham, 12th June

Other moths that night were 2 London Dowds Blastobasis lacticolella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Barred Straw, Common Pug, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, 4 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 3 Ingrailed Clays, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, Uncertain, Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, 7 Straw Dots and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Other things in the trap inlcuded the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus, the caddisfly  Limnephilus lunatus, the beetle Aphodius rufipes and another beetle that was new for me, Adrastus pallens.

Adrastus pallens, North Elmham, 12th June

Catching up from 2-3 weeks ago

I've a lot of catching up to do... too many moths and not enough time to process them all!

Anyway, going back now to Sunday 21st June.  Just 2 new for the year: Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana and Common Carpet.

Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, North Elmham, 21st June

Other stuff that night were Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Ghost Moth, Riband Wave, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Privet Hawkmoth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, 2 Orange Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, White Ermine, 8 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 5 Heart and Darts, 3 Ingrailed Clays, Small Square-spot, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 2 Marbled Minors (gen det), Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, 2 Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Ghost Moth, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Swallow Prominent, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 21st June

Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, North Elmham, 21st June

Next day I found a Pale Tussock at work, while home produced a relatively meagre catch of 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, Ghost Moth, 2 Common Swifts, Silver-ground Carpet, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Common Footman, 5 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Treble Lines and Burnished Brass.  Also this beetle; I think it's Malthinus flaveolus but there are similar species.

probable Malthinus flaveolus, North Elmham, 22nd June

Poor weather ensured a very poor catch on Tuesday night: Barred Marble Celypha striana, Treble Brown Spot, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Large Yellow Underwing and Ingrailed Clay.

Things improved on Wednesday night, the best of 63 species being a Four-dotted Footman.

Four-dotted Footman, North Elmham, 24th June

Also new for the year were Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, Clay and 2 Beautiful Hook-tips.

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham, 24th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 24th June

Clay, North Elmham, 24th June

Also that night were Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella (gen det), Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (gen det), 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (gen det), 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Plum Tortrices Hedya pruniana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 4 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, 6 Common Pugs, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 3 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock, 5 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 8 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 3 Heart and Clubs, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, 3 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Small Square-spots, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, 3 Uncertains, 9 Straw Dots and Snout. 

 Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 24th June

Ligjt Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella, North Elmham, 24th June

Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 24th June

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 24th June