Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 5: Grass-veneers II (Catoptria to Platytes)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE) (continued)


Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella - Both years beat the previous records at home with 44 counted on 19 nights between 9th July and 7th August 2019 and two nights in the peak period when they weren't counted.  Then 53 between 17th June and 22nd August 2020.  28 was my previous best annual total.  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows (just one) and at Weybourne.

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Pearl-band Grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella - Probably my moth of the year, indeed one of the best moths I have ever caught, was one trapped in my garden on 13th July 2019.  This species is common in parts of northern and western England but does not appear to be common anywhere closer than Yorkshire.  I'm not sure of its exact status in the counties between there and here but I can't find anything to suggest that it normally occurs anywhere near Norfolk (less than 10 records in Lincolnshire apparently).  There 3 records of coastal migrants in Norfolk and Suffolk including 2 from Eccles in 2001 and 2015 (the only previous Norfolk records) and one from Felixstowe in 2003.  My garden is terrible for migrants and, with no other coastal records that I'm aware of in 2019 it seems to me to be a bit of a stretch to think this was an immigrant.  It was, however, a bumper year for this species in its normal range with, for example, at least 3,100 one night at one site in Yorkshire.  I suspect my record was a wanderer from a British population rather than an immigrant.

Pearl-band Grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella, North Elmham, 13th July 2019

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella - Totals of 18 here between 11th July and 3rd September 2019 and 14 between 1st and 15th August 2020.  Numbers here vary considerably with 11 in 2017 and 50 in 2015 but these were below average.  Elsewhere one next door and 3 at the meadows.

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Powdered Grass-veneer Thisanotia chrysonuchella - None.  I've only seen this species in the Brecks and it's pretty rare elsewhere in Norfolk.  However there are a scattering of records around the county so it's plausible I might turn one up here sometime.


Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella - 3 in the garden and one at the meadows all between 25th July and 1st August 2019.  I thought this was a staggering total for a moth that I recorded in my garden for the first time in 2018 (and only twice elsewhere before this), but then 2020 happened!  I caught 14 here between 16th July and 5th August, 3 at the meadows (18th July and 7th August), one at Bintree Wood and one at Brancaster (2nd July). This recent surge of records was reflected by other recorders across the county and at the moment it looks more like an upward trend than simply a couple of good years.  Although the head-down posture is distinctive I think it would be easy to confuse this species with Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella.

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella - Sinlges in the garden trap on 24th June 2019 and 22nd June 2020.  This species isn't quite annual here although I have averaged one a year.  It is much commoner in the Brecks.

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 22nd June 2020

Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella - One in the garden trap on 25th July 2019, only my third record here and first since 2015.  Although I've had a couple of other records locally this species is much easier to find at the coast.  None in 2020.

Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

Next page: more Crambidae

Gold-sheen Clothes Moths and another insectella

My first Gold-sheen Clothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella for the garden came to a pheronomore lure for Yellow-legged Clothes Moth last year.  My second came to the same pheromone lure this year, on 25th June.  Probably it was no coincidence that my third came to my Robinson trap overnight that very same night.  I can only guess that it was attracted to the garden by the pheromone lure, didn't go in the trap so was still in the garden when the light trap switched on and got caught by that instead.  This is still a rarely-recorded species in Norfolk with just 6 post-Victorian records prior to these but half of those were mine (all from different locations) and I can't help thinking that this species is being overlooked because they don't come to light traps very often.

Gold-sheen Clothes Moths Nemapogon ruricolella (males, gen det), North Elmham, 25th June

Four new moths for the year in the trap that night were Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Rosy Footman and Short-cloaked Moth.  The clothes moth seems to be on the increase in Norfolk - I had the first post-Victorian record at Warham Greens in 2014 followed by two more here at home in 2015.  There were three more records elsewhere in the county in 2016-17, but this is still a good record for the time being.

Drab Clothes Moths Haplotinea insectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th June

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 25th June

Short-cloaked Moth, North Elmham, 25th June

Other moths were 2 Common Yellow Conches Agapeta hamana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Small Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Barred Straws, Willow Beauty, 2 Privet Hawk-moths, Common Footman, 10 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Clubs, 6 Heart and Darts, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Common Wainscots, 3 Brown Rustics, Treble Lines, 6 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 2 Straw Dots and Snout. Also the caddisfly Hydropsyche pellucidula and a Common Frog.

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, North Elmham, 25th June

The following night saw another wave of new moths for the year, viz. 3 Plain Conches Phtheochroa inopiana, Rose Tortrix Archips rosana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, Brown Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia inscriptella, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Buff Arches, Yellow Shell, Haworth's Pug, 2 Wormwood Pugs, Scarce Footman and Rustic.

Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, North Elmham, 26th June

Rose Tortrix Archips rosana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, North Elmham, 26th June

Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, North Elmham, 26th June

Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, North Elmham, 26th June

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham, 26th June

Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, North Elmham, 26th June

Brown Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia inscriptella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Beautiful Plume Ambvlyptilia acanthadactyla, North Elmham, 26th June

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 26th June

Yellow Shell, North Elmham, 26th June

Haworth's Pug, North Elmham, 26th June

Rustic, North Elmham, 26th June

With the others the species total hit 94, not bad but some way to go to the peak counts possible at this time of year.  The others were 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, 2 Common Yellow Conches Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, 4 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 21 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, 7 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 8 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 Ghost Moths, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 21 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, 8 Barred Straws, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Barred Yellows, 3 Sandy Carpets, Common Pug, 3 Grey Pugs, V-Pug, 6 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Small Yellow Waves, 3 Clouded Borders, 4 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 4 Mottled Beauties, 4 Common White Waves, Common Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Eyed Hawk-moth, Rosy Footman, 5 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, 3 Cinnabars, 2 Short-cloaked Moths, Turnip Moth, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 2 Flame Shoulders, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 4 Smoky Wainscots, 4 Common Wainscots, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, 2 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 4 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Straw Dots, 6 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots.

Other insects included the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg., the caddisfly Limnephilus sparsus and an Orange Ladybird.

Two more good days

2nd July was another reasonably good day, though not so busy as 1st.  A great record for the house was Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia dilutella - a relatively scarce heathland species.

Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia dilutella, North Elmham, 2nd July

Another good one was Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana.  I had the third, fourth and sixth county records at my old house in Bawdeswell but it was under-recorded and there have been at least 6 more records since.

Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, North Elmham, 2nd July

Also new for the year (for the garden) were Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli and Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana.

Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, North Elmham, 2nd July

Potentially the best moth was what looks like Oak-bark Argent Argyresthia glaucinella.  External features looked good, the wingspan was around 8mm which is less than the stated range for the very similar and commoner Argyresthia spinosella, but various references suggest referring to genitalia to confirm.  Only problem is they don't say what to look for and Jon says the genitalia aren't reliable.  Maybe the pointy corners are indicative of glaucinella, but I'm not sure I can say it's a robust ID at this point.  Unfortunately it was on its last legs and didn't survive long enough for me to get a picture if it alive.

possible Oak-bark Argent Argyresthia glaucinella, North Elmham, 2nd July

The rest were Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 White Sallow Case-bearers Coleophora albidella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Brown House-moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis cerasana, 6 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Woodland Marbles Orthotaenia undulana, 4 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 14 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 8 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Emerald, 6 Dwarf Cream Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Treble Brown Spot, 24 Riband Waves, Barred Yellow, 2 Lilac Beauties, Swallow-tailed Moth, 5 Mottled Beauties, 3 Common White Waves, 2 Common Waves, Clouded Silver, 12 Buff-tips, Lobster Moth, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 6 Common Footmen, 29 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 5 Heart and Clubs, 3 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 10 Double Square-spots, 4 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Lychnis, 2 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 8 Brown Rustics, 4 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor (gen det), Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, 21 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 4 Mottled Rustics, 6 Burnished Brasses, 11 Beautiful Hook-tips, 3 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts, 2 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Lobster Moth, North Elmham, 2nd July

Heart and Club, North Elmham, 2nd July

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 2nd July

Next day (3rd July) was similar in terms of numbers.  New fot the year were Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Spotted Shoot Moth Rhyacionia pinivorana, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves and 2 Dot Moths.

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 3rd July

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham, 3rd July

Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, North Elmham, 3rd July

Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Other micros were Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, 2 Grey Tortrices Cnephasia stephensiana (gen det), 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 16 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 7 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 11 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata and 6 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella.

Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd July

The rest of the macros were 2 Common Emeralds, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 27 Riband Waves, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, 5 Barred Straws, 4 Barred Yellows, Broken-barred Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Common Pug, Grey Pug, 3 Green Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, Scorched Carpet, 6 Brimstone Moths, Swallow-tailed Moth, 7 Willow Beauties, 4 Mottled Beauties, 3 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawkmoth, 3 Buff-tips, 5 Rosy Footmen, 3 Common Footmen, White Ermine, 8 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Clubs, 8 Heart and Darts, 5 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Double Square-spots, 2 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 4 Brown Rustics, 6 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor (gen det), 3 Tawny Marbled Minors (gen det), Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, 15 Uncertains, 4 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass, 3 Spectacles, 7 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 12 Snouts and 9 Fan-foots.

Scorched Carpet, North Elmham, 3rd July

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd July

Also this psocid (bark-fly)... Graphopsocus cruciatus.

 Graphopsocus cruciatus, North Elmham, 3rd July