Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Erebids (Erebidae) part 1: Herald, Straw Dot, Snouts and Tussocks and allies

EREBIDS (EREBIDAE)


Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix - Singles in the garden on 23rd and 24th April and 2nd May 2019 and on 5th April 2020.  I've had between 1-4 every year I've trapped here.  I've not caught this species anywhere else since living here.

Herald, North Elmham, 23rd April 2019

Herald, North Elmham, 5th April 2020

Straw Dot Rivula sericealis - At least 106 caught in the garden between 30th May and 25th September 2019 but no counts on 9 dates so the true total may have been higher (but possibly not a lot as a lot of counts of one around this period).  Almost certainly my worst year here, 2020 being the next worst year with 166 between 26th May and 30th September.  Over the previous 4 years I averaged nearly 460 a year.  Elsewhere caught next door on 3 nights, 20 seen at the meadows on 13 dates and 3-4 at Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street and Swanton Great Wood and singles at Hills and Holes and in Cornwall.

Straw Dot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Snout Hypena proboscidalis - Totals of 105 caught in the garden between 23rd June and 20th October 2019 and 91 between 3rd June and 27th September 2020.  I catch more than double those totals in an average year - these were my worst totals so far.  Elsewhere a total of 29 over 17 dates at the meadows, 6 in Hellesdon, 9 in Cornwall and 1-2 at Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street, Swanton Great Wood, Weybourne and Row Heath (West Runton).

Snout, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Snout, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Snout, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Buttoned Snout Hypena rostralis - One in the garden moth trap on 18th May 2020.  I've had 2 here before, in 2015 and 2017 (and 4 at my old house in Bawdeswell between 2010 and 2014).

Buttoned Snout, North Elmham, 18th May 2020

White Satin Leucoma salicis - None at home in either year or in any year since 2016, though 2 here in each of 2015 and 2016 and one next door in 2017.  One at the meadows on 18th July 2020 was my only record in 2019-20, my second here.

White Satin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Black Arches Lymantria monacha - 4 caught in the garden between 22nd and 27th July 2019 and 6 between 18th and 26th July 2020.  I've never gone lower than 4 and the previous 2 years' totals weren't much higher but before that 22 in 2016.  Elsewhere one next door, 2 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood, 5 at Swanton Great Wood and 2 at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August.

Black Arches, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Black Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Black Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2019

Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar - I've never caught this species myself but I did get to see one that someone else caught in 2019.  I don't normally twitch moths that other people catch but I took a call from Chris Mills who said that a friend who was staying in his house (while he was overseas)and  had caught what appeared to be this species.  His friend wanted someone else to go along and see it in order to confirm the ID as as I was at Winterton I was happy to pop in on my way home and take a look.  After becoming extinct in the 19th century this species is re-establishing itself in a few areas in southern England.  This was the 5th Norfolk record since 2016 and there were another 5 records in 2020 so it seems like it may be in the process of colonising Norfolk.  In any case we can expect more in coming years...

Gypsy Moth, Themelthorpe, caught by Sean on 18th August 2019

Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea - 3 caught in the garden between 11th and 26th July 2019 and 9 between 13th and 29th July 2020.  3-4 a year here is normal but I'd never gone above 6 before.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and 30 at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020.

Brown-tail, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Yellow-tail Euproctis similis - At least 17 between 11th July and 3rd August 2019 and 40 between 18th June and 12th August 2020.  Although not counted on 3 nights in 2019, so the actual total may have been a little higher than 17, this was certainly my worst year for Yellow-tails here - I averaged 68 a year between 2015 and 2018.  Elsewhere a couple next door, 3 at the meadows (plus a caterpillar on 27th May 2020), one at Bintree Wood and 2 caterpillars at Titchwell on 1st June 2019.

Yellow-tail caterpillar, Titchwell, 1st June 2019

Yellow-tail caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda - Totals of 12 caught in the garden between 22nd April and 30th June 2019 and 7 between 9th and 22nd May 2020.  15 a year is average and these were my worst showings since moving here.  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows and 8 at Hills and Holes.

Pale Tussock, North Elmham, 22nd April 2019

Pale Tussock, North Elmham, 9th May 2020

Pale Tussock, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Vapourer Orgyia antiqua - Singles in the garden moth trap on 6th Augsut and 26th September 2020.  I'd only ever caught 2 here before (2015 and 2017) though I'd also found a caterpillar in 2014.  Elsewhere oone to light at the meadows on 30th July 2019 and then 3 seen in flight in daytime on 15th-17th October; another to light on 18th July 2020.  Also one day-flying at Cromer on 22nd October 2019. 

Vapourer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd July 2019

Vapourer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Vapourer, North Elmham, 26th September 2020

Next page: more Erebidae

Record count of 331 straminella (and a few more interesting bits and pieces)

Compared to the excellent night of 23rd July there were more moths on 24th (645 vs. 594) but fewer species (120 vs. 127) and rather less quality.  The numbers were swelled by a record count of 331 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella.

Perhaps the best moth was a White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella, my second here and third anywhere.

White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella, North Elmham, 24th July

Other new moths for the year were Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, Bordered Beauty, 2 Black Arches, Copper Underwing and Twin-spotted Wainscot.

Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, North Elmham, 24th July

Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th July

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 24th July

Black Arches, North Elmham, 24th July

Copper Underwing, North Elmham, 24th July

Twin-spotted Wainscot, North Elmham, 24th July

Other moths were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia, Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 3 Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 4 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 4 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, 3 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Ash-coloured Crest Acompsia cinerella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, 6 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 5 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 10 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 12 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Pearl Evergestis pallidata, 14 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Buff Arches, Least Carpet, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 9 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 12 Riband Waves, 2 Flame Carpets, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 7 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, 4 Common Carpets, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, Lime-speck Pug, Wormwood Pug, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, Scorched Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, 18 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 4 Common Footmen, 3 Ruby Tigers, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 7 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Double Square-spots, Antler Moth, 4 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, 7 Dun-bars, 2 Dark Arches, Double Lobed, 2 Cloaked Minors, Common Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, 2 Dusky Sallows, 2 Ear Moths, Fen Wainscot, 14 Uncertains, 5 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Straw Dot and Snout.

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 24th July

Double Lobed, North Elmham, 24th July

I often have problems with Blackbirds feeding on my discarded moths but this year a new problem cropped up from time to time - wasps attacking moths that I'd released from the trap.  This Poplar Hawk-moth seemed unable or unwilling to fly away from the attentions of the wasp (Common Wasp I think but I didn't check its face markings).  It was difficult to see what was going on exactly but I didn't see the wasp sting the moth and it seemed to be focusing on the wings, which it was possibly eating (cerrtainly damaging at any rate).

Poplar Hawk-moth attended by wasp, North Elmham, 24th July

Mayflies were 2 Pale Evening Duns Procloeon bifidum and 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. Among the lacewings Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the year and there was 3 Cunctochrysa albolineata and 2 Micromus variegatus.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 24th July - showing its characteristic black-marked ventral surface

Caddisflies included Polycentropus irroratus and Tinodes waeneri, both new for the year, and Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus rhombicus.

Polycentropus irroratus (female), North Elmham, 24th July

Tinodes waeeri (male), North Elmham, 24th July

New bugs for the year were 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Phytocoris varipes and Psallus haematodes.  Other bugs were Forest Bug, Lygus pratensis, Megalocoleus molliculus and Trigonotylus caelestialium.

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 24th July

Psallus haematodes, North Elmham, 24th July

Megalocoleus molliculus, North Elmham, 24th July

There were 2 Ectopsocus barklice, one of which I checked and confirmed was my first Ectopsocus briggsi of the year.

Ectopsocus briggsi (male), North Elmham, 24th July

The click beetle Melanotus villosus was new for the year; other beetles were 2 Amara apricaria and Lagria hirta.

Melanotus villosus, North Elmham, 24th July

Thompson Water mothing

Dave and I headed out to Thompson Water for some mothing again on Tuesday 8th August.  Conditions weren't perfect but we thought it worth a go.  There were a few nice moths but nothing espectially remarkable: Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 20 Birch Marbles Apotomis betuletana, 3 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, 4 Wainscot Veneers Chilo phragmitella, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small China-marks Cataclysta lemnata, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Knot-horn Cryptoblabes bistriga, Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Clay Triple-lines, Small Fan-footed Wave, Single-dotted Wave, Small Scallop, 3 Common Carpets, 3 Small Phoenixes, 5 Small Rivulets, Triple-spotted Pug, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, Common Wave, Iron Prominent, 15 Black Arches, 6 Dingy Footmen, Flame Shoulder, Antler Moth, 2 Dun-bars, Spectacle, 3 Straw Dots and Snout.

Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, Thompson Water, 8th August

Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella, Thompson Water, 8th August

Double-striped Knot-horn Cryptoblabes bistriga, Thompson Water, 8th August

Clay Triple-lines, Thompson Water, 8th August

Triple-spotted Pug, Thompson Water, 8th August

Black Arches, Thompson Water, 8th August - a large female and a small male

We've had Scarce Emerald Damselfly come to light not far away from here before but this time it was the turn of its commoner congener, Emerald Damselfly.

Emerald Damselfly, Thompson Water, 8th August

There were a few beetles and I didn't attempt to identify all of them, though I did retain a few representatives to check which turned out to be 2 Ilybius fuliginosus, Pterostichus niger and Silpha atrata.  Similarly the caddisflies included 2 Agrypnia pagetana and Molanna angustata, the latter only my second and a species I don't get at home.

Molanna angustata, Thompson Water, 8th August

I had less luck identifying leafhoppers - another Kybos sp. was again a female which don't allow full identification but the shape of the projection on the back of the seventh abdominal sternum proved it was a different species to the one I had at home the previous week - this one was either betulicola or smaragdulus.  An Edwardsiana leafhopper was also a species that requires male genitalia to identify it - and this was a female too.

Kybos betulicola or Kybos smaragdulus, Thompson Water, 8th August

Edwardsiana sp., Thompson Water, 8th August

I'm not confident about the ID of this springtail but suspect it's Pogonognathellus longicornis.

probable Pogonognathellus longicornis, Thompson Water, 8th August

At home the hoverfly Eristalis tenax was the first I've noted this year but the moths were quite poor: 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Pale-streak Grass-veneers Agriphila selasella, 12 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 9 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Blood-vein, Brimstone Moth, Pale Prominent, 3 Dingy Footmen, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character and 5 Straw Dots.

Eristalis tenax, North Elmham, 8th August

There are often Frogs around the outside of my moth trap, presumably eating the moths that land round the outside (though I've not seen one successfully catch a moth yet).  Now they're getting smarter and hopping up to the top of the moth trap... next they'll be hopping in.

Common Frog, North Elmham, 8th August