Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 11: Lacanobia Brocades to Hadena Coronets

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Light Brocade Lacanobia w-latinum - None.  I caught 10 here between 2015 and 2017 but that's 3 consecutive years now without catching any here.


Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina - 2 worn individuals at Carsaig (Mull) on 11th and 13th June 2019 but none at home in either year.  As with the previous species that's now 3 consecutive blank years here, after 5 caught between 2015 and 2017.

Pale-shouldered Brocade, Carsaig (Mull), 11th June 2019

Pale-shouldered Brocade, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Dog's Tooth Lacanobia suasa - None.  I've never caught this species locally but there are a few records in mid Norfolk so I may get it round here sometime.


Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea - Totals of 21 in the garden between 16th May and 1st August 2019 and 16 between 3rd June and 23rd July 2020 - my worst years so far (average annual total over 6 years is 39).  Elsewhere one next door, 3 at the meadows, one at Bintree Wood, 4 at Hellesdon and one at Brancaster.

Bright-line Brown-eye, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Bright-line Brown-eye, North Elmham, 4th June 2020

Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae - Just a single record each year in the garden, on 7th July 2019 and 26th June 2020.  I've never come so close to a nil return before - I only caught 3 in 2017 but in other years I've had between 14 and 28.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Broom Moth Ceramica pisi - 6 on Mull including 4 from 9th to 12th June 2019 at our accommodation at Carsaig and 2 at other sites on 13th June. That doubled the total number I've ever seen.  In Norfolk this species seems to be commonest in the Brecks and I've not recorded it locally - however there are quite a few records from the other moth-trapper in my road (none very recent) so I hope to get it here eventually.  None in 2020.

Broom Moth, Carsaig (Mull), 9th June 2019

Broom Moth, Carsaig (Mull), 11th June 2019

Shears Hada plebeja - 5 in the garden between 20th May and 7th June 2019 - my worst year here so far (but I was away for a week during their flight period) - and 9 between 20th May and 14th June 2020.  I average 11 a year here.  Elsewhere singles at Carsaig (Mull) on 10th and 11th June 2019.

Shears, North Elmham, 20th May 2019

Shears, Carsaig (Mull), 10th June 2019

Shears, Carsaig (Mull), 11th June 2019

Shears, North Elmham, 20th May 2020

Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae - 4 caught here between 12th August and 3rd September 2019 but none here (or anywhere) in 2020.  4-6 a year here is normal though I had a blank year for them before, in 2017.  Elsewhere in 2019, 2 next door and one at Weybourne on 5th July.


Campion Sideridis rivularis - Singles trapped in the garden on 10th and 23rd August 2019 and 8th and 14th July 2020.  I didn't catch any here in 2014-2016 but have had 1-2 each year since.

Campion, North Elmham, 10th August 2019

Campion, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Broad-barred White Hecatera bicolorata - One in the garden moth trap on 9th August 2020, the first I've seen since I caught one here in 2015.  They're quite lovely...

Broad-barred White, North Elmham, 9th August 2020

Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea - None.  I've never seen this species; it's a recent re-colonist in Norfolk but until the last year or two nearly all the records were from the Norwich area.  A few very recent records from other parts of Norfolk suggest that it might be spreading but so far there haven't been any round here.


Lychnis Hadena bicruris - An unexpected blank year here in 2019 followed by 6 between 21st May and 17th August 2020.  I had never had less than 4 in a year here before and I caught 27 here in 2015, so 2019's nil return came as a surprise.  However they were out locally - I caught one at the meadows and one next door.  Another at the meadows in 2020 and one at Carsaig (Mull) in June 2019.

Lychnis, Carsaig (Mull), 10th June 2019

Lychnis, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

Lychnis, North Elmham, 11th July 2020

Varied Coronet Hadena compta - None.  After 2 here in 2015 I hoped the species would prove regular here, but I haven't seen one here (or anywhere) since.


Marbled Coronet Hadena confusa - One in the garden on 29th June 2019.  This was my second record here following one in 2016.  This species is generally very scarce in Norfolk away from the north coast.

Marbled Coronet, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

Tawny Shears Hadena perplexa - None.  I've only ever seen one of these and never any locally.  They're much less common round here than they are along the north coast but not so rare that I might not catch one here someday.


Next page: more Noctuidae

More Poplar Cosmets and an early Butterbur

One of the new moths I saw in the Waveney Valley on 10th July was Poplar Cosmet Batrachedra praeangusta.  I didn't expect to get my next record of this species quite so quickly, but in my garden trap the following night, 11th July, there were not only one but two Poplar Cosmets Batrachedra praeangusta!

Poplar Cosmets Batrachedra praeangusta, North Elmham, 11th July

There were a number of other new moths for the garden year-list that night, mostly micros: Small Red Slender Caloptilia rufipennella (only my second here although I've seen a few elsewhere), Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella (just about annual here with single records in 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Campion.

Small Red Slender Caloptilia rufipennella, North Elmham, 11th July

Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Smoky Marble Lobesia abscisana, North Elmham, 11th July

Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella, North Elmham, 11th July

Campion, North Elmham, 11th July

Other moths that night were 2 Fulvous Clothes Moths Tinea semifulvella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, White-headed Ermine Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 4 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 5 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 2 Bright Bells Eucosma hohenwartiana, 4 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 48 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 62 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 20 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Ghost Moth, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, 14 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 4 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Barred Straw, Scallop Shell, Dark Umber, Bordered Pug, V-Pug, Green Pug, 7 Double-striped Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 5 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, 7 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, 2 Common Waves, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, 11 Rosy Footmen, 25 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 51 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Flame, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 3 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Marbled Beauty, 2 Dun-bars, 4 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics (and 2 further Common Rustic aggs.), 44 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Dun-bar, North Elmham, 11th July

Other insects included the mayfly Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum, a Common Earwig, the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea,the caddisflies 2 Hydropsyche siltalai and Leptocerus tineiformis, and the beetles Nicrophorus investigator, Black Sexton Beetle and Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva.

What may well have been a Pale Birch Pigmy Stigmella confusella would have been a new moth and the highlight of the garden moth trap on 12th July, except that I am currently unable to confirm the ID.  I do not have any reference material to compare the genitalia to (there are no pictures of the species' female genitalia on the Dissection Group website) but there is comparative reference material for most of the other feasible similar-looking Stigmella, and their genitalia doesn't match my moth's bits.  However, these are tricky and I don't think it would be safe to call this one just at the moment.

probable Pale Birch Pigmy Stigmella confusella (female), North Elmham, 12th July

Quite a few of the relatively small number of county records of Butterbur are undated, but of those that are dated the earliest is 20th July.  So a Butterbur here on 12th July was quite a surprise.  I had 3 Butterburs in the garden trap in 2016, the only ones I've ever seen before, and was to go on and see 3 again in 2018.

Butterbur, North Elmham, 12th July

There were a few other new moths for the year: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella, Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, Nutmeg and 2 Slender Brindles, .  The finitimella was only my third, following singles here in each of the previous two years.  The chearophyllella was only my fourth here too, though I've had more of them elsewhere.

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 12th July

Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 12th July

Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella, North Elmham, 12th July

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, North Elmham, 12th July

Slender Brindle, North Elmham, 12th July

The rest of the night's 103 species of moth were 12 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 4 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 10 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 3 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 42 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 137 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 19 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, 2 Buff Arches, Common Emerald, 2 Small Blood-veins, Least Carpet, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Straw, July Highflyer, Scallop Shell, Dark Umber, 2 Small Rivulets, Sandy Carpet, 2 Green Pugs, 8 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, 4 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, 2 Swallow-tailed Moths, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawk-moth, 14 Rosy Footmen, 19 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 59 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Flame, Flame Shoulder, 13 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 4 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 6 Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 30 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 3 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots.

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 12th July

The only bug in the trap was a new species for me, Trigonotylus caelestialium.  Although Trigonotylus is a distinctive genus there are two very similar species; this one is distinguished by the very distinct red stripe through the 1st antennal segment (diffuse in T ruficornis).

Trigonotylus caelestialium, North Elmham, 12th July

Other insects included the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea, the caddisfly Limnephilus marmoratus, 2 Common Red Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulvas, 4 Lagria hirta and my first garden Hornet of the year.

The next day there was a Large White in the garden and a Common Wasp came to the Red-belted Clearwing lure.

There were far fewer moths that night with just 55 species.  These included two new for the year: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana and Rosy Rustic.

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 13th July

The others were 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (and another Cnephasia sp. that escaped), 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 8 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 54 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Buff Arches, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, July Highflyer, V-Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 2 Early Thorns, Purple Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, Engrailed, 2 Common White Waves, Poplar Hawk-moth, 5 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 34 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, 2 Slender Brindles, 2 Common Rustics, 25 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot and Snout.

Not many non-moths of note - the only caddisfly was Hydropsyche pellucidula and the only beetle was Lagria hirta.

First garden Campion

New moths for the year on Friday 14th July were Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Black Arches and Lesser Common Rustic but the highlight of the night was a new macro species for the house, albeit an overdue one - a Campion.

Campion, North Elmham, 14th July

Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana (left) and Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana (right), North Elmham, 14th July

Black Arches, North Elmham, 14th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Other moths that night were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 7 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, 2 Least Carpets, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Yellow Shell, Small Rivulet, Currant Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 3 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, 2 Yellow-tails, 6 Rosy Footmen, 24 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 29 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 3 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 22 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

Beetles consisted of my first Nicrophorus investigator (a sexton beetle) this year and 2 Aphodius rufipes.  There were also two Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies) which started off as female subimagos but moulted into imagos during the following afternoon.

Aphodius rufipes, North Elmham, 14th July

Poind Olive Cloeon dupterum (sub-imago above, the same individual having moulted to imago below), North Elmham, 14th July

The following night there were four more additions to the garden year list: Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Small Scallop.

Horse Chesetnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, North Elmham, 15th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristellla, North Elmham, 15th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 15th July

Small Scallop, North Elmham, 15th July

Other moths that night were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, New Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 13 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 4 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 16 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, 8 Small Fan-footed Waves, 11 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Pale Prominent, 4 Yellow-tails, 4 Rosy Footmen, 21 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 4 Buff Footmen, 17 Common Footmen, 4 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Double Square-spot, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Slender Brindles, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 16 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Among the green lacewings Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the year and there were 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Mayflies were represented by another Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.  Shieldbugs included my first Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug) of the year and a Birch Shieldbug; there was also the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 15th July