Sorhagenia rhamniella (August Cosmet) - a new genus of moth for me

There are 3 species of Sorhagenia in Norfolk but none of them are common.  Two species have just 3 records each to their name while the third has 13 - from just 4 observers.  So it's no surprise that I hadn't encountered any up to now, but this changed on 15th July when I trapped the commonest of the three, August Cosmet Sorhagenia rhamniella.

August Cosmet Sorhagenia rhamniella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

It was a fairly busy night with 406 moths of 107 species.  Other new moths for the year were all micros: Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, 2 White-triangle Buttons Acleris holmiana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella and Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella (only my second here).

Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, North Elmham, 15th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 15th July

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, North Elmham, 15th July

Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella, North Elmham, 15th July

The other micros were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 10 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, 2 Hawthorn Ermines Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, Lesser Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 3 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Rose Tortrix Archips rosana, 9 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, 11 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 3 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 96 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, 10 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 15 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 15th July

Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

The macros consisted of Leopard Moth, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 8 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 6 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 2 Barred Straws, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, 3 V-Pugs, 4 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 5 Rosy Footmen, 22 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 26 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 8 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 8 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 27 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and Fan-foot.

Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 15th July

Mayflies included Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Green Drake Ephemera danica and 10 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. There was the green lacewing Cunctochrysa albolineata while the brown lacewing Micromus variegatus was new for the year.

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 15th July

Caddisflies included one new for the house, Agraylea sexmaculata, one new for the year, Orthotrichia costalis, and Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche siltalai, Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, Limnephilus lunatus, probable Athripsodes aterrimus and Leptocerus tineiformis.

Agraylea sexmaculata, North Elmham, 15th July

A leafhopper was likely to be Kybos betulicola which would have been new for the year but as it was a female, the similar Kybos smaragdula cannot be eliminated.  Beetles included 3 Lagria hirta.

New Pigmy for the garden

Another visit to the Cathedral Meadows on Monday 14th added a few more species to the list.  A Large White was the only new butterfly but I managed to get some better photos of other species including Holly Blue and Orange-tip (just too slow for Brimstone).

Holly Blue, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Orange-tip, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Green-veined White, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

As well as 5 Large Red Damselflies there was this Common Blue Damselfly, my first this year.

Common Blue Damselfly, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

A Dark-edge Bee-fly provided an opportunity for some flight shots...

Dark-edged Bee-fly, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

I only found 3 moths: Oak Satin Lift Heliozela sericiella, Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella and Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella.

Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Hoverflies included another Melanostoma mellinum and my first Epistrophe eligans.

Epistrophe eligans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

I eventually identified this bee as a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.

Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

When I got home I found a Varied Carpet Beetle in the house.  Ironically I always seem to find them in the uncarpeted rooms - maybe the ones in the carpeted rooms are hiding in the carpets?

The star of that night's moth trap was a Coarse Hazel Pigmy Stigmella floslactella, a new species for the garden.

Coarse Hazel Pigmy Stigmella floslactella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th May

Also new for the year were Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Pale Tussock, Heart and Dart (again, worn almost to the point of being unrecognisable) and a Cockchafer.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 14th May

Pale Tussock, North Elmham, 14th May

Cockchafer, North Elmham, 14th May

Other moths were 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Common Pug, Brimstone Moth, Chocolate-tip, Flame Shoulder and Nut-tree Tussock, while Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and 3 Limnephilus auricula represented the caddisflies.

Brimstone Moth, North Elmham, 14th May

Dark Spectacle and Feathered Gothic

A few moths on the patch at Bittering on Wednesday 23rd August were Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella and Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis.

That night New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella and Dark Spectacle were new for the year.

New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd August

Dark Spectacle, North Elmham, 23rd August

The other moths were Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 24 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 8 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 4 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Chinese Character, 3 Blood-veins, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Yellow Shells, 3 Green Carpets, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 5 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, Dusky Thorn, Engrailed, Common Wave, 4 Light Emeralds, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 6 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 4 Common Wainscots, 10 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic, 6 Straw Dots and Snout.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 23rd August

Other insects included the mayflies Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum and Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum and the caddisflies Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus sparsus. There were 2 Birch Shieldbugs and a Forest Bug and but it was the beetles that got me a lifer, the water beetle Rhantus frontalis (along with another Trechus quadristriatus, following my first two nights previous, and Aphodius rufipes).

Rhantus frontalis, North Elmham, 23rd August

Trechus quadristriatus, North Elmham, 23rd August

The following night was quieter with nothing of real note: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 10 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Orange Swift, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Common Wave, Light Emerald, Swallow Prominent, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Mouse Moth, Straw Underwing, 6 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and Straw Dot. Also the caddisfly Lype phaeopa.

There were fewer species the next night but a couple of more interesting ones.  A Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella was only my second ever following one here in 2015 and a Feathered Gothic was a nice addition to the year list.

Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th August

Feathered Gothic, North Elmham, 25th August

Other moths were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 6 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Shaded Broad-bar, 4 Brimstone Moths, 3 Light Emeralds, 4 Flame Shoulders, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 4 Square-spot Rustics, 4 Common Wainscots, 8 Flounced Rustics, 3 Vine's Rustics and Straw Dot. Other insects included the caddisflies Hydropsyche siltalai, 4 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Limnephilus lunatus, the leafhopper Empoasca vitis and 3 of the dung beetles Aphodius rufipes.

Natterjacks, a new weevil and a rainbow halo

A birding trip to Burnham Overy on 1st May didn't produce many moths - just 2 Plain Fanners Glyphipterix fuscoviridella and a Cinnabar, though there was a caterpillar which I haven't yet been able to put a name to (maybe Garden Tiger but it doesn't look quite right to me).  Also Red Admiral, Small Copper and this Natterjack Toad.

Natterjack Toad, Burnham Overy Dunes, 1st May

unidentified caterpillar (possibly Garden Tiger?), Burnham Overy Dunes, 1st May

There was also a Limnephilus auricula (caddisfly) at Holkham.  Not many moths at home again that night but there were two new for the year: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella and Knot Grass. The others were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Waved Umber, Muslin Moth and 3 Hebrew Characters.

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 1st May

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st May

This weevil was on my front door (inside) in the morning - although I can't find any definitive statement that the dark line down the join of the elytra is a reliable identifier, all the images I've checked of other Strophosoma and similar species seem to lack it whereas it is apparently characteristic of Nut Leaf Weevil Strophosoma melanogrammum - a new species for me.

Strophosoma melanogrammum, North Elmham, 2nd May

Next day I returned to Burnham Overy where I saw another Natterjack in the dunes, and a Stoat.  Moths included Plain Fanner Glyphipterix fuscoviridella, Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana and 3 Cinnabars. There were 2 Small Coppers and the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus.

Natterjack Toad, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

The most impressive natural phenonemon though was this 'glory' - a rainbow halo around my shadow as I walked down the seawall early in the morning.  I think it's also known as Brocken Spectre, though I'm not sure if that's exactly the same thing or not - more often seen in mountains apparently, though I suspect that has something to do with the way the shadow is thrown down a hillside which was sort-of the case here as I was on top of the seawall.

'Glory' or Brocken Spectre, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

Moths at home that night were Swallow Prominent, White Ermine, Muslin Moth, Clouded Drab and 4 Hebrew Characters, the White Ermine being new for the year.

White Ermine, North Elmham, 2nd May

The following night Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella and Red Twin-spot Carpet were new for the year.  There was also Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock and 4 Hebrew Characters, plus the caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus and a Black Sexton Beetle.

Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, North Elmham, 3rd May

Red Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 3rd May

The following night Scalloped Hazel was new for the year.  Other moths were 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Brindled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Swallow Prominent, Muslin Moth and 4 Hebrew Characters. Also the caddisfly Limnophilus sparsus and another Black Sexton Beetle.

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 4th May

Marbled Coronet

During the afternoon of 8th June I added Common Nettle-tap Anthophilus fabiricana to the garden year list. A good selection of moths in the trap that night inlcuding 47 species.  Best was a Marbled Coronet, a species mainly recorded at the coast in Norfolk, though there are a good spread of odd records elsewhere.  Still very unexpected here.

Marbled Coronet, North Elmham, 8th June

Also new for the house (it's only my second summer) were Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella and Large Nutmeg.

Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, North Elmham, 8th June

Large Nutmeg, North Elmham, 8th June

New for the year at home were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Purple Bar, Common Wainscot, Straw Dot and Snout.

Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 8th June

Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae (female, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Snout, North Elmham, 8th June

Common Wainscot, North Elmham, 8th June

Other moths were 52 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Common Swifts, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 6 Green Carpets, 4 Sandy Carpets, Foxglove Pug, Mottled Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 2 Grey Pugs, Clouded Silver, 4 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Muslin Moth, 6 Cinnabars, 2 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shears, Light Brocade, Lychnis, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Brown Rustic, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 2 Marbled Minors, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, Vine's Rustic and Mottled Rustic.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 8th June

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 8th June

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 8th June

Vine's Rustic, North Elmham, 8th June

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Caddisflies were represented by 4 species from the same genus.  Limnephilus flavicornis was the first I've identified and Limnephilus binotatus was my first this year (and first properly identified with a key).  The others were 3 Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 8th June

Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham, 8th June

This Earwig was really small and I thought it must be something other than the Common Earwig which so far every Earwig I've identified has been.  Turns out, I think, that it's a juvenile Common Earwig.

 apparent juvenile Common Earwig, North Elmham, 8th June