Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 9: Satellite to Dark Brocade

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Satellite Eupsilia transversa - In 2019 one caught in the garden on 9th February and then singles on 5th and 26th October.  In 2020 singles on 17th March and 1st April and 3 between 20th October and 25th November.  I average about 6 a year here and have never had less than 3.  At the meadows singles on 4th October 2019, 29th September 2020 (my earliest ever autumn record) and 8th November.

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Satellite, North Elmham, 17th March 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Olive Ipimorpha subtusa - None.  Apparently some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one, here in 2018.


Lesser-spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis - Singles in the garden on 4th August 2019 and 1st August 2020, my first ever records of this species anywhere.

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 4th August 2019

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina - At least 10 between 12th and 31st July 2019 (not counted on one night but unlikely to have been much more than one) and 20 between 10th July and 10th August 2020.  2019 was my worst year here for this species - on average I catch around 28 a year.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 3 dates and one at Bintree Wood.

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Lunar-spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina - Singles trapped in the garden on 16th and 24th July 2019.  I've caught exactly 2 here in 4 out of the 6 years I've lived here (but none in 2017 or 2020).


Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago - 2019 was my worst year for this species with just 2 singles caught on consecutive nights 2nd and 3rd September; 7 in 2020 between 5th and 15th September.  The average annual tally is 9-10.  Elsewhere 10 at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020 and one at the meadows.

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis - None.  I had never recorded this species anywhere until 2018 and still haven't found it locally, which is surprising given the large numbers that occur in Foxley Wood, for example (which had a direct line of sight to my light when I lived in Bawdeswell).  Surely it will turn up here sometime...


Suspected Parastichtis suspecta - None.  I caught this species twice when I lived in Bawdeswell but so far haven't found it here in North Elmham.


Dingy Shears Apterogenum ypsillon - One in the garden on 10th July 2019, the 5th I've caught here in 5 years but none here in 2020.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Dingy Shears, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Merveille du Jour Griposia aprilina - 5 trapped in the garden between 16th October and 2nd November 2019 and 14 between 11th and 22nd October 2020 including a record count of 4 on the last date.  I average 9-10 a year

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 23rd October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 11th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 19th October 2020

Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita - None in 2019 but 3 here on consecutive nights from 18th to 20th October 2020 (they appeared to all be different individuals, certainly the first two were).  This species is surprisingly scarce here - before 2020 I'd only caught 4 in 6 years.  I used to get more when I lived in Bawdeswell.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 8th September 2020.

Brindled Green, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Deep-brown Dart Aporophyla lutulenta - None.  I've never seen this species and records in mid Norfolk are few and far between.  Not out of the question that I could find one round here though.


Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra - Totals of 17 in the garden between 25th September and 1st November 2019, my worst year since 2014, and 28 between 15th September and 22nd October 2020 (during which period I was away for a week).  I've averaged 32-33 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and 32 in Cornwall.

Black Rustic, North Elmham, 25th September 2019

Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea - None in 2019; 42 at Tresidder in Cornwall between 3rd and 9th October 2020.  I've never seen this species in Norfolk and as it's almost only found at the coast and in the Norwich area I don't particularly expect to find one locally.  But there have been a couple of records not all that far away (e.g. Stibbard) so maybe there are a few knocking around this part of Norfolk too...

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 3rd October 2020

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020

Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta - None.  Some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one here in North Elmham, in 2016, and just a small number elsewhere.


Dark Brocade Mniotype adusta - This must be one of the most widespread moths in Norfolk to have avoided me - there's even been a record in my road.  But until 2019 I'd never seen one, and I've still not found one in Norfolk.  It's perhaps a bit commoner on Mull where I caught 3 at Ceann Chnocain on 13th June 2019.

Dark Brocades, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

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.

Pine Carpets, Merv and a Large Ranunculus

Just 11 species of moth on 25th September was a fairly poor showing but they included 2 Pine Carpets, a new species for the garden.  The ohers were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Light Emerald, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 2 Black Rustics, 20 Lunar Underwings, Sallow and 2 Snouts.

Pine Carpets, North Elmham, 25th September

Just 10 species the next night: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Black Rustics, 14 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and Large Wainscot.

A couple of new moths for the year on 27th: Merveille du Jour and, coming all at once, 4 Barred Sallows.

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 27th September

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 27th September

The others that night were 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, Brimstone Moth, Engrailed, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 3 Black Rustics, 5 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow, Rosy Rustic and 2 Snouts.

Also found when emptying the trap were the Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea and a small woodlouse that was paler than most of the ones I see in my garden.  Sadly it didn't turn out to be anything new - it was the same speceis as they nearly always are, Common Rough Woodlouse.

Common Rough Woodlouse, North Elmham, 27th September

Next night Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia was new for the year.  Other moths were Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Blood-vein, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, 3 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow, Sallow, Angle Shades, Burnished Brass and 5 Snouts.

Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia, North Elmham, 28th September

Bugs included 2 Birch Shieldbugs and, new for the house, Lygus rugulipennis.

Lygus rugulipennis, North Elmham, 28th September

There were also 6 Harlequin Ladybirds.  I haven't been able to work out what sort of Aphid this is.  Please let me know if you know how to identify these.

unidentified Aphid, North Elmham, 28th September

A quarter of the moth species on 29th September were new for the year - Brindled Green, Beaded Chestnut and new for the house, Large Ranunculus.  Actually I think I may have overlooked one or two Beaded Chestnuts among the recent Lunar Underwings - I'd slightly misremembered one feature that separates those types that look broadly similar and didn't check the underwing.

Large Ranunculus, North Elmham, 29th September

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 29th September

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 29th September

The others were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Carpet, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Black Rustics, 4 Lunar Underwings and Rosy Rustic.

Slim pickings on the last night of the month: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Brown-spot Pinion, 3 Beaded Chestnuts and 6 Lunar Underwings.