Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 4: Grass-veneers I (Chilo to Agriphila)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE) (continued)


Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella - None in 2019; one at the meadows on 18th June 2020 and one at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.  I've only caught this species at home once, in 2016.

Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th June 2020

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella - Totals of 6 at home between 21st July and 25th August 2019 and 7 between 24th July and 15th August 2020, which are more than I'd ever recorded here before (2 in 2016 and 3 in 2018, none 2015 or 2017).  Singles also at the meadows on 3 dates in 2019.

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella - Trapped in the garden from 7th June 2019.  By 24th July I'd recorded over 1000.  I continued to trap the species nightly until 10th August but stopped counting them so don't have an overall total.  Even without full counts this was easily my best year here with 685 my previous best total for the year (in 2015).  Another good year in 2020 with 919 between 26th May and 20th August.  Elsewhere counts of up to 60 recorded at the meadows, and found next door, at Bintree Wood, Foxley Wood, Hindolveston, Hellesdon, Brancaster and Weybourne.  A couple of weakly-marked individuals shown here:

Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, North Elmham, 1st July 2019

Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, North Elmham, 5th August 2020

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella - At least 73 caught at home on 30 nights between 18th June and 26th July 2019 (not counted on last 2 nights).  This was above average but 2020 was by far my best year so far with 136 between 15th June and 12th August.  Elsewhere only a couple at the meadows, one at Weybourne, half a dozen at Hellesdon and one at Brancaster.

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th July 2020

Marsh Grass-veneer Crambus uliginosellus - None.  I've not yet recorded this species locally - there are records from the Dereham area so it wouldn't surprise me greatly to find it round here but it favours boggier sites than the ones I cover usually.


Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus - 37 recorded at home between 25th May and 5th July 2019 and 37 again between 17th May and 29th June 2020.  These was below the yearly average of 42.  There were good numbers at the meadows though , especially in 2019 when there were 60 on 6th June.  A few also found at Bintree Wood, Hills and Holes and Frost's Common.

Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th July 2020

Dark Grass-veneer Crambus hamella - None.  I've not yet recorded this species any closer than Marsham Heath and indeed there aren't any records much closer than that to here.  Presumably it's quite loyal to heathland habitat so maybe only a relatively small chance of catching one locally?


Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella - At least 14 caught here between 19th June and 25th July 2019 (not counted on the last date) and 12 between 22nd June and 5th August 2020.  That's well short of the 25 in 2018 but about average overall.  Elsewhere 1-3 recorded on 9 dates at the meadows, 6 at Weybourne, one at Brancaster and singles at 3 sites on Mull.

Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella - Recorded at home on 53 nights between 29th June and 9th September 2019.  The highest recorded count was 39 on 21st August but I didn't count them at all in late July/early August which was during their peak flight period.  As such it's difficult to compare numbers with previous years but it had been averaging at 674 per year form 2015-2018 and was probably in at least this ballpark if not more.  Indeed it was recorded on significantly more nights that 2020 when I recorded my highest numbers ever, 1,185 over 43 nights between 9th July and 31st August (peaking at 118 on 15th August).  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows (max. 35), Foxley Wood and Swanton Great Wood.

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 9th August 2020

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 16th August 2020

I'm not quite sure about the identity of this caterpillar found on (but not clearly eating) Greater Mullein at the meadows, but it compares well with images of this species.  If anyone can firm up the identification of this then please do get in touch with me.

possible Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th September 2020

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella - An unprecedented couple of years for this species at home where previously I had recorded one in 2015, 2 in 2018 and none at all in the intervening years.  At least 12 between 26th June and 4th August 2019 and then 52 (!) between 16th July and 25th August 2020.  Also one at the meadows on 26th July 2019 and 2 there on 7th August 2020.

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, North Elmham, 16th July 2020

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

White-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila latistria - One at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019; none in 2020.  In Norfolk this species occurs mainly close to the coast but there were lots of inland records in 2016 including the only example I've ever caught here.


Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella - Singles recorded at home on 5 nights between 10th July and 2nd August 2019, a fairly typical year - in the previous 4 years I'd always caught between 4 and 8.  2020 was exceptional with 25 between 25th July and 15th August including 4 on 9th August.  Elsewhere one at Foxley Wood on 17th August 2019 and one at the meadows on 7th August 2020.

Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, North Elmham, 2nd August 2019

Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, North Elmham, 11th August 2020

Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella - Recorded at home on 40 nights between 4th July and 21st August 2019.  After 67 on 24th July I stopped counting them until numbers had tailed off again so no way of telling how this year compared to previous years (but I should think probably closer to the 2015-2017 average of about 600 a year than the 3,300 or so recorded here in 2018).  2020 was fairly good with 791 between 14th July and 3rd September.  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows, Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street, Swanton Novers and Hellesdon.


Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea - Totals of 176 recorded here between 9th August and 10th September 2019 and 167 between 12th August and 16th September 2020.  I've averaged 120 here since 2014 - 2019 was my best year so far.  Elsewhere recorded next door and at Row Heath (West Runton).  Perhaps surprising in a couple of good years that I didn't get any at the meadows.


Next page: more Crambidae

Moths at the meadows

On 16th July I trapped again at the meadows, catching 109 species of moth. There was nothing super-remarkable among them, but a few nice things.  Pine Hawk-moth was a surrpise given the absence of pines on site and it was good to see Peach Blossom, Small Phoenix, 2 White Satins and a Miller.

Pine Hawk-moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Peach Blossom, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

White Satin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Miller, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

The other macros were  2 Drinkers, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, 3 Buff Arches, Small Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, Common Carpet, 2 Sharp-angled Carpets, Small Rivulet, Bordered Pug, V-Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, 3 Peppered Moths, 4 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, 5 Yellow-tails, Black Arches, Round-winged Muslin, 2 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Lychnis, Antler Moth, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Grey Dagger, Knot Grass, Small Angle Shades, 2 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 3 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth, Small Rufous, 3 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Plain Golden Y and Spectacle.

V-Pug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Yellow Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Peppered Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Black Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Antler Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Grey Dagger (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Angle Shades, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Small Rufous, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Plain Golden Y, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Micros consisted of Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, 4 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, probable Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, up to 8 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella (1 confirmed), 4 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 12 Knapweed Conches Agapeta zoegana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 4 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, possible Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (messed up the gen det so not certain), 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 10 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 40 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Large Grey Scoparia subfusca, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula nitidulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella,

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Caddisflies included 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus rhombicus, Leptocerus tineiformis and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.  There was also a Blue-winged Olive (mayfly) Serratella ignita, the leafhopper Iassus lanio, the water beetle Ilybius fuliginosus, an Orange Ladybird and a new beetle for me, Curtonotus aulicus.

Iassus lanio, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Ilybius fuliginosus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

Curtonotus aulicus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

This spider was marauding around on the sheet by the trap, probably hoping to munch the odd moth when I wasn't looking.  I failed to identify it from photos so asked a friend, who asked a friend and ended up with a reply from a third - great team effort!  Anyway, it was a Labrynth Spider Agelena labrynthica - thanks Keith, Chris and Richard!

Labrynth Spider Agelena labrynthica, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th July

A new beetle (Hallomenus binatatus) and more moths

Quite a few new moths for the year on 19th June again, with Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet and 2 Lilac Beauties.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 19th June

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th June

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham, 19th June

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, North Elmham, 19th June

Large Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 19th June

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 19th June

The rest of the moths were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Common Swift, 5 Common Emeralds, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 6 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Barred Straw, Barred Yellow, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, Elephant Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Common Footman, 2 White Ermines, 9 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Double Square-spots, Shears, Common Wainscot, 7 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Dark Arches, 3 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Treble Lines, 6 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, 39 Straw Dots, 4 Fan-foots and 3 Small Fan-foots.

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 19th June

Green Pug, North Elmham, 19th June

Caddisflies consisted of Ecnomus tenellus, Holocentropus picicornis, Polycentropus flavomaculatus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the first two of which were new for the year.

Holocentropus picicornis, North Elmham, 19th June

A Psallus varians was the only heteropteran bug but leafhoppers included what was probably my first Macrosteles sexnotatus (but a female, and you can't eliminate less likely congeners without a male) and Fagocyba cruenta.

probable Macrosteles sexnotatus (female), North Elmham, 19th June

Beetles included one lifer (Hallomenus binotatus), one new for the year (Summer Chafer), a Hydrophiliid I can't identify at the moment and have retained to look at again another day, and the soldier beetles Cantharis rufa and Cantharis cryptica.

Hallomenus binatatus, North Elmham, 19th June

Summer Chafer, North Elmham, 19th June

Just 4 new moths for the year the following night: Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis and Large Emerald.

Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, North Elmham, 20th June

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham, 20th June

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, North Elmham, 20th June

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 20th June

Others were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Tipped Oak Case-bearers Coleophora flavipennella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 2 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia woodiella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Purple Bar, Barred Straw, Common Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Scorched Wings, 6 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 16 Buff Ermines, 3 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 5 Ingrailed Clays, Bright-line Brown-eye, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 3 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, 3 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Hook-tip, 12 Straw Dots and Snout.

The brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus was new for the year as was the caddisfly Limnephilus rhombicus.   There was a Giant Cranefly Tipula maxima, the first I've noticed this year though I don't check craneflies carefully and representing the beetles, both Summer Chafer and Brown Chafer, the latter new for the year.

Limnephilus rhombanus, North Elmham, 20th June

Brown Chafer, North Elmham, 20th June