Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 10: Pine Beauty and Orthosias to Grey Arches

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Pine Beauty Panolis flammea - One at the meadows on 20th March 2019 and one at Cranwich Heath on 14th March 2020.  None in my garden where I've only ever caught 2 in the 6 years I've trapped here (2015 and 2018).

Pine Beauty, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Pine Beauty, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta - 101 in the garden between 26th February and 1st May 2019 and 50 between 24th February and 20th April 2020.  2019 was the first time the total has edged into triple figures though 2020 was well under the average of 63.  Elsewhere 10 at the meadows (9 on one night), one at Sculthorpe Moor and 4 in the Brecks.

Clouded Drab, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Clouded Drab, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

female Clouded Drab, North Elmham, 11th April 2020

Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa - None.  Many Norfolk records of this species are migrants but a relatively high proportion of inland records may suggest that there is still a small resident population, perhaps.  Either way with one record just down the road there's some hope that I might get my first before too long.  Having said that, as I write 2021 is shaping up to be an unusually good year for this species and I haven't had a sniff of one yet.


Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi - A similar story to Clouded Drab above - 109 in the garden between 1st March and 26th April 2019 was the first time I've recorded over 100 (the average annual tally is 61) but 38 between 14th February and 22nd April 2020 was decidedly under par.  Elsewhere 19 at the meadows (3 nights) plus a caterpillar there on 25th May 2020, and 2 at Cranwich Heath.

Common Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Common Quaker caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020

Small Quaker Orthosia cruda - 2019 was my best year for this Orthosia too, with 133 trapped in the garden between 1st March and 26th April.  Unlike the previous species 2020 was above average too with 98 between 1st March and 13th April.  Around 73 a year is average here.  Elsewhere 14 at the meadows, 4 in the Brecks and 2 at Keswick.

Small Quaker, North Elmham, 1st March 2019

Small Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Small Quakers, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti - None.  I had caught these here on 3 occasions previously (2015 and 2017) (and so far 2021 is proving to be a good year for this species with 3 here so far plus one at the meadows).


Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis - This species is never common here but like the commoner Orthosias 2019 was my best year for them with 8 between 24th March and 29th April (the latter being my latest ever).  2020 was equally good with 8 between 13th and 27th April.  I'd only caught 9 here in the previous 4 years, with a completely blank year in 2018.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and one at Sculthorpe Moor.

Powdered Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Powdered Quakers, North Elmham, 13th April 2020

Northern Drab Orthosia opima - None.  I've never caught this species locally.  The inland form is pretty rare in Norfolk so it's a bit of a long-shot to hope for one, but there have been a handful of records in mid Norfolk so not without a chance.


Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica - Unlike the other common Orthosias 2019 was not my best year for this species - in fact it was my equal worst year, with a total of 243 between 25th February and 25th May.  2020 was even worse with 190 between 28th February and 20th May.  The average is around 256 a year.  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows and 10 in the Lake District.

Hebrew Character, North Elmham, 26th February 2019

Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda - 2019 was my best year for this species at home with 20 between 2nd March (my earliest ever) and 30th March but 2020 was my worst year with just 3 between 19th and 30th March.  The average annual tally here is 8.  Also one at the meadows and 6 in the Brecks.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd March 2019

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Hedge Rustic Tholera cespitis - One in my garden trap on 2nd September 2019 was a nice surprise, my first here and only my second ever anywhere.  It was followed by another one here on 30th August 2020.

Hedge Rustic, North Elmham, 2nd September 2019

Hedge Rustic, North Elmham, 30th August 2020

Feathered Gothic Tholera decimalis - None in the garden in 2019 but a record 6 between 29th August and 6th September 2020.  I had 7 of these in my garden between 2015 and 2017 but none in 2014, 2018 or now 2019.  Elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019.  All 14 Feathered Gothics that I've ever seen have been within just a 13-day period, 25th August to 6th September.

Feathered Gothic, North Elmham, 29th August 2020

Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis - Singles in the garden moth trap on 17th August 2019 and 8th August 2020.  Numbers here have varied from 1-7 in a year.  Also one next door on 9th August 2019 and at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Antler Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Nutmeg Anarta trifolii - At least 10 caught in my garden trap between 8th July and 21st August 2019 (not counted on one night) and then after one on 26th May 2020, 7 between 6th July and 9th September.  These were quite poor totals (average is around 15 a year).  Also recorded at the meadows, Whitwell Street, Weybourne (2) and Brancaster.

Nutmeg, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta myrtilli - One to light at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019 - only the second I've ever seen.  I've not found this species locally and given its heath-specific habits I'm not particularly expecting to.  None in 2020.

Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Row Heath (West Runton), 31st August 2019

Grey Arches Polia nebulosa - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was only the third I've ever seen.  I've never found it locally but it has been caught in my street.  None in 2020.

Grey Arches, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

March Moths

I omitted to mention this Orange Ladybird in my last post - I trapped it on 21st February.

Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 21st February

After a few blank nights while the Beast from the East brought lots of lovely snow things finally thawed on Sunday 4th March when a Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana appeared on the front door.

A trip to Fakenham on 5th produced my first Bee of the year, a Honey Bee I think.  Also Yellow Brain fungus or it's very similar counterpart (thanks again to James for confirming).  There were a couple of Springtails on the base of the fungus.

Honey Bee, Fakenham, 5th March

Yellow Brain (most likely Tremella mesenterica but possibly T aurantia), Fakenham, 5th March

Springtail sp., Fakenham, 5th March

That night Chestnut and Satellite turned up in the trap.

Satellite, North Elmham, 5th March

The following night was quiet with just Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 March Moths and 2 Chestnuts.  There was nothing the next night and just a single March Moth on 8th March.  Things picked up again on 9th with 5 Dotted Borders, 3 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

The following day I noticed a fly scuttling across the patio, a behaviour I don't recall seeing in flies before.  I've not done much with flies but thought this might be worth attempting to identify.  Eventually I narrowed it down to a Megaselia sp. but couldn't get any further with it.  It belongs to the family Phoridae, appropriately known as Scuttle Flies.

Scuttle Fly Megaselia sp., North Elmham, 10th March

That night saw a signifiant up-turn in number and variety of moths: 7 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, 4 March Moths, Pale Brindled Beauty, 2 Dotted Borders, Clouded Drab and Chestnut.  The Clouded Drab was new for the year.

Clouded Drab, North Elmham, 10th March

The following night produced 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Oak Beauty, 3 Dotted Borders and Hebrew Character, and then after a blank night, Common Quaker was new for the year on 13th, with Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut.

A Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella was new for the year on 14th - a species I don't get many of here (average one a year).  The only other moths that night were 2 Hebrew Characters.

Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, North Elmham, 14th March

There were Clouded Drab, 2 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut on 15th and then I was away on the night of 16th.  I did leave the trap running though (on timer) and when I returned in the evening there was a Clouded Drab in it. No more moths in the snow that night thouugh, or the next couple of nights.

Things re-started with 2 Hebrew Characters on 19th and another 2 on 20th, the latter alongside an Oak Beauty.  I visited Great Ryburgh on 21st and found a Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana in the hide.  That night a Tufted Button Acleris cristana was new for the year; also Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 4 Hebrew Characters.

Tufted Button Acleris cristana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 21st March

The next night was the best night of the year so far with Small Quaker and Grey Shoulder-knot new for the year.  I didn't get the latter species last year and never get many.  The others were 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, March Moth, Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, 4 Common Quakers, Clouded Drab, 4 Hebrew Characters, Satellite and Chestnut.

Sallow Quaker, North Elmham, 22nd March

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 22nd March

Another new moth for the year appeared the following night: Shoulder Stripe.  The other moths that night were Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 March Moths, Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, Small Quaker, 4 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 9 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut.

Shoulder Stripe, North Elmham, 23rd March

Another Grey Shoulder-knot was the highlight the following night.  There was also March Moth, Small Quaker, 11 Hebrew Characters, Satellite and 2 Chestnuts.

Sunday 25th was mild and sunny and as I took the scenic route back home from Norwich at lunch-time I thought I'd probably see a few Brimstones.  A glimpsed butterfly at Swanton Morley was probably Small Tortoiseshell, my first butterfly this year.  Eventually I did see a Brimstone, just down the road at Worthing - and then a second Brimstone outside my house when I drew up.

The only micro in the trap that night was a good one, Red-letter Flat-body Agonopterix ocellana, a species that perhaps surprisingly I hadn't seen until last year.  Other moths that night were 3 March Moths, 2 Oak Beauties, 2 Small Quakers, 12 Hebrew Characters, Grey Shoulder-knot and Chestnut.

Red-letter Flat-body Agonopterix ocellana, North Elmham, 25th March

The following night there was March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, Small Quaker, Common Quaker and 7 Hebrew Characters. No new moths for the year on 27th either though another Winter Shade Tortricodes alternella was noteworthy. The others were March Moth, 3 Small Quakers and 10 Hebrew Characters. A Black Sexton Beetle was my first this year.

Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, North Elmham, 27th March

Black Sexton Beetle, North Elmham, 27th March

There was only a single Common Quaker on 28th.  This Red Chestnut was new for the year the following night.  Other than that it was still very quiet though: Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 3 Hebrew Characters.

Red Chestnut, North Elmham, 29th March

The next night was poor again: Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 2 Hebrew Characters.  The month ended with Small Quaker, Common Quaker and 3 Hebrew Characters on 31st.


I've been working through a number of beetles I retained last year and managing to put names to most, some more easily than others, but the last one proved a real struggle.  Part of the problem was that I failed to correctly identify what family it belonged and after spending several hours on it on 3 occasions I was ready to give up.  Then I came across the beetle families page on the UK Beetle Recording website and this led me to Scirtidae, the Marsh Beetles.  I'd somehow missed this family so after all this time I was glad to finally have a lead.  In the end I still couldn't get a species-level ID as I believe it's a female Elodes sp., a genus in which only the males are identifiable (at least according to the references I've been using).  On the one hand disappointing that I couldn't resolve it fully but on the other hand satisfying that I finally managed to get as far as I think is possible with such a troublesome beast.

Elodes sp., North Elmham, 19th July 2017

Harvest Mouse in the garden!

After the excitement in the Brecks on Saturday I managed 18 moths of 8 species at home, easily the best night this year so far.  Among them were 4 new for the year here including a Lead-coloured Drab (and a Clouded Drab for comparison), Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and Early Grey.

The Lead-coloured Drab looked quite reddish-brown at some angles and as such I nearly overlooked it as a Clouded Drab. The rounded wing apex should have given it away but it was only when I noticed its very feathered antennae that the penny dropped.

Lead-coloured Drab, North Elmham, 11th March

Clouded Drab, North Elmham, 11th March

Lead-coloured Drab (left) and Clouded Drab (right), North Elmham, 11th March

Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, North Elmham, 11th March

Early Grey, North Elmham, 11th March

The other moths were 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, 4 Dotted Borders, 6 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

Also that night was a Pea-leaf Weevil Sitona lineatus, my first at home.

Pea-leaf Weevil Sitona lineatus, North Elmham, 11th March

On Sunday afternoon I was looking out of the kitchen window when a movement caught my eye.  It was a mouse, but not just any old mouse, it was a lovely yellowish-buff colour and it was tiny!  Fortunately my camera wasn't far away and I hastily ran off some shots before it scuppered.  The colour prompted thoughts of Harvest Mouse, a species which I never expected to bump into in my garden, but I wasn't sure if the tail was long enough.  The only mouse I've seen here before was Wood Mouse and it clearly wasn't like previous examples of that, being smaller, a different colour, and having nice clearly demarcated border between the yellowish fur on the upperside and the clean white fur beneath.  Some features fitted Yellow-necked Mouse but that's supposed to be even bigger than Wood Mouse and as far as I can tell it's too early in the year for a young one.  Harvest Mouse is supposed to have smaller ears than Wood and Yellow-necked Mice and at first I wondered if they were small enough, but after looking at some photos of all three species (and House Mouse) I decided it had to be Harvest Mouse, my first ever in the wild.  I hadn't been expecting a mammalian lifer in my garden - what a fabulous surprise!

Harvest Mouse, North Elmham, 12th March

In the evening I decided to give Beetley Common by headtorch a go.  It was disappointing for moths with just 2 Water Carpets and a Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, but it wasn't a complete waste of time.

Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana (male, gen det), Beetley Common, 12th March

Water Carpet, Beetley Common, 12th March

I checked one woodlouse that I thought might be different (from the usual Common Rough Woodlice) and indeed this time it was, Common Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum.

Common Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum, Beetley Common, 12th March

The only two beetles I found by searching tree trunks both proved to be Olibrus corticalis, a new species for me.  I picked one of them up with some moss and an even tinier beetle fell out of the moss.  At first I didn't think I was going to get an ID as I struggled to key it out to family even but eventually I sorted it - it was another new one for me, Cortinicara gibbosa.

Olibrus corticalis, Beetley Common, 12th March

Cortinicara gibbosa, Beetley Common, 12th March

Also my first Lacewing of the year, presumably Chrysoperla carnea but as it was female I can't elminate the highly unlikely pallida.

The trap at home produced 14 moths of 7 species, so not quite as good as Saturday night.  Among them was my first Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia of the year.

Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia, North Elmham, 12th March

The others were Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, 4 Dotted Borders, 5 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut.

Monday's trap produced 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, Oak Beauty, 4 Dotted Borders, Clouded Drab and 4 Hebrew Characters.

My first Peacock butterfly of the year was at Burnham Overy yesterday morning.

Last night there wasn't so much (or else it flew off or got eaten by the birds before I got to it - I was a little after first light this morning) - March Moth, 2 Shoulder Stripes, 2 Dotted Borders and 5 Hebrew Characters.