Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Case-bearers (Coleophoridae) (Part 2)

 CASE-BEARERS (COLEOPHORIDAE)


Grey Alder Case-bearer Coleophora binderella - One in the garden moth trap on 16th July 2020.  I've recorded this species here twice before, in 2016 and 2018.

female Grey Alder Case-bearer Coleophora binderella, North Elmham, 16th July 2020

White-legged Case-bearer Coleophora albitarsella - One in the garden trap on 8th August 2019.  This was my fourth, all since 2016.  Although the tarsi have sometimes been detectably paler than the rest of the legs I don't think I've caught one that has really obvious white tarsi yet.  They're quite overlookable when a bit worn and I resort to gen detting in the absence of clear white scales on the tarsi.  Also an occupied larval case on Ground Ivy at the meadows on 25th October 2020 and feeding signs where one had been on another date.

female White-legged Case-bearer Coleophora albitarsella, North Elmham, 8th August 2019

feeding signs and larval case of White-legged Case-bearer Coleophora albitarsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th October 2020

Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii - None.  I've only ever found one of these, which I caught in my next-door neighbour's garden in 2016.  At least I know they're nearby - surely one will turn up in my own garden before too long?


Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella - One trapped here on 25th May 2019 followed by another 8 between 17th July and 30th August, then in 2020 15 between 31st July and 15th August.  I've had worse years but sometimes this species is sometimes much commoner (e.g. 39 trapped here in 2018).  Also trapped next door, at the meadows and at Whitwell Street (the latter being my latest in these years, 3rd September 2020).  This species is now listed as grade 2, i.e. it can be recorded without gen detting, and in theory antennal structure should give away deauratella, however the deauratella I caught (confirmed by gen det) didn't show this feature very obviously, and if you want to prove the presence of frischella in Norfolk I'm not sure you'll have much chance if you simply record alcyonipennella-like moths as that without dissecting them to check.  I also think it would be quite possible to mix these up with some of the other dark Coleophora that aren't usually listed as confusion species, like Dark Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora paripennella for example.  Nevertheless, when I have a big backlog of moths requiring gen detting it's going to be tempting now to let some go without confirming, and indeed some of the later ones I recorded in 2019 were not checked.

male Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

male Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

male Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, North Elmham, 6th August 2019

male Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

female Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Whitwell Street, 3rd September 2020

Spikenard Case-bearer Coleophora conyzae - One trapped at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  Although there are only a dozen records of this species in Norfolk I've trapped a couple at Weybourne before (need to look into why those records aren't showing - I thought someone else had submitted them) and also a couple here in North Elmham (2016 and 2018).

female Spikenard Case-bearer Coleophora conyzae, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea - A total of 28 trapped here between 16th June and 30th August 2019 and 13 between 12th July and 18th August 2020.  2019 was my best ever year for this species, which was previously averaging at about 15 per year.  Despite being one of my commonest Coleophora here, since moving here in 2014 I've hadn't recorded it anywhere else, even at the meadows where 2 of its foodplants grow, but in 2020 I had one at Bintree Wood too (where I'd also caught it back in 2012).

male Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, North Elmham, 17th June 2019

female Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Bintree Wood, 24th July 2020

Black-stigma Case-bearer Coleophora hemerobiella - My first and second records of this species fell in 2020, in my garden trap on 21st and 30th July.  It's meant to be readily identifiable on the strength of the dark spot on its forewings but some caution is required as other species can show dark spots in a similar position due to wear, and clypeiferella seems to show this most of the time.  However in reality hemerobiella really is quite distinctive, more so than I had expected, not so much because of the dark spot but the overall appearance being quite whitish on the background (so not really confusable with clypeiferella) and with a generous dusting of dark speckling covering the wings.  

male Black-stigma Case-bearer Coleophora hemerobiella, North Elmham, 21st July 2020

Black-stigma Case-bearer Coleophora hemerobiella, North Elmham, 30th July 2020

Lotus Case-bearer Coleophora discordella - None.  A frequently-recorded Coleophora that I haven't found yet.


Red-clover Case-bearer Coleophora deauratella - None.  I've not recorded this species locally yet but with plenty of Red Clover growing at the meadows I'd have throught I must be in with a chance.


Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella - 3 in the garden between 28th June and 5th July 2019 and 6 between 15th June and 6th August 2020.  3 here in a year is below average (6-7 is average) but it wasn't quite the worst year (one in 2016).  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows, one at Hellsedon and 2 at Weybourne, all between 25th May and 14th July 2019.  With its white-ringed antennae this species is readily separated from other bronzy-green Coleophora.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 19th June 2020

Next page: more Coleophora

Anania fuscalis for the third year

Had a look round Lolly Moor with Dave on Sunday 11th June (I know, I'm falling way behind again... will hopefully start catching up now the summer peak has passed).  For the third year running we had several Cinereous Pearls Anania fuscalis - the only site this species is currently known to occur at in Norfolk.  There was a record from near Attleborough in the mid 90s but our records at Lolly Moor over the last three years are the only others in Norfolk since the 1800s.  I can't believe the species isn't present at other sites - worth checking other damp meadows with Yellow Rattle growing.

We also recorded Large Long-horn Nematopogon swammerdamella, Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, 3 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana, White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, probable Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana (had a pale hindwing but was quite worn so perhaps not safe to go on that feature; cirsiana occurs here as well and has similar genitalia) and 5 Grass Rivulets.

Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, Lolly Moor, 11th June

Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana, Lolly Moor, 11th June

probable Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana, Lolly Moor, 11th June

Dave passed me this moth which he'd caught at home (Toftwood) for me to check - it was a Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana, a species only recorded in Norfolk half a dozen times.

Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana, Toftwood, 10th June

Moths at home on the night of 11th included Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Oak Hook-tip, Dark Arches and Beautiful Hook-tip all new for the year.

Small Grey Eudonia mercurella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th June

Oak Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th June

Dark Arches, North Elmham, 11th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th June

Other moths were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Common Swifts, 2 Currant Pugs, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Mottled Beauties, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 10 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 5 Ingrailed Clays, Small Square-spot, Lychnis, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Marbled Minor, 2 Middle-barred Minors, Uncertain, 3 Mottled Rustics, 4 Straw Dots and Snout.

Other insects in the trap included the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus and the bug Phylus palliceps which was new for the year.

Phylus palliceps, North Elmham, 11th June

New for the year the following night were Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Large Yellow Underwing, Clay and Smoky Wainscot.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 12th June

Large Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 12th June

Clay, North Elmham, 12th June

Smoky Wainscot, North Elmham, 12th June

Other moths that night were 2 London Dowds Blastobasis lacticolella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Barred Straw, Common Pug, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, 4 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 3 Ingrailed Clays, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, Uncertain, Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, 7 Straw Dots and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Other things in the trap inlcuded the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus, the caddisfly  Limnephilus lunatus, the beetle Aphodius rufipes and another beetle that was new for me, Adrastus pallens.

Adrastus pallens, North Elmham, 12th June

Scarce Silver-lines and Maple Prominent

Over 200 moths again on 7th July consisting of 86 species.  Ok, but some good quality stuff among them.  Among the best were two striking macros that I've only rarely seen before - Scarce Silver-lines which I'd only ever seen once before, 5 years ago, and Maple Prominent.

Scarce Silver-lines, North Elmham, 7th July

Maple Prominent, North Elmham, 7th July

I do like a nice green moth, and another new addition to the garden year list was this Large Emerald.

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 7th July

Several micros were new for the year too: Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis and Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 7th July

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, North Elmham, 7th July

Other micros recorded were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 6 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 7 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella and 3 False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella.

Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis, North Elmham, 7th July

My second Purple Clay of the year was notable and Early Thorn and Engrailed were my first of this generation.

Purple Clay, North Elmham, 7th July

Other macros were Buff Arches, 3 Common Emeralds, Small Fan-footed Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 5 Barred Straws, Green Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, 6 Brimstone Moths, Lilac Beauty, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, 5 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, 3 Common White Waves, Common Wave, 6 Clouded Silvers, Eyed Hawkmoth, 2 Marbled Browns, 2 Rosy Footmen, Four-dotted Footman, 5 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Dot Moths, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Poplar Grey, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, 11 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 3 Spectacles, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, 7 Straw Dots, Snout and 7 Fan-foots.

 Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 7th July

Spectacle, North Elmham, 7th July

Common White Wave, North Elmham, 7th July

Small Angle Shades, North Elmham, 7th July

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 7th July

So far all of the caddisflies I've identified this year (the first year I've been doing them) have been common species, but one of them on 7th July appears to be a bit more unusual.  I'm pretty confident about the ID of Crunoecia irrorata (male, genitalia checked) but the NBN Gateway map doesn't show any records in VC28.  I've not done anything about submitting my caddis records yet... I intend to do so and when I get round to it I'll no doubt find out if this is as good as it seems.

Crunoecia irrorata (male), North Elmham, 7th July

Other caddis were Ecnomus tenellus, Limnephilus lunatus and Leptocerus tineiformis. Hoverflies were represented by Marmalade Fly Episyrphus balteatus, the sexton beetle Nicrophorus investigator was new for the year as was the mirid bug Stenotus binotatus.

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham, 7th July

Nicrophorus investigator, North Elmham, 7th July

The following night was a bit quieter with just 57 species including 3 new for the year: Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, V-Pug and Cloaked Minor.

The rest were Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Buff Arches, 3 Common Emeralds, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 9 Riband Waves, 4 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, Lilac Beauty, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Elephant Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, 4 Rosy Footmen, 8 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Poplar Greys, Brown Rustic, Tawny Marbled Minor, 3 Uncertains, Burnished Brass, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 4 Snouts and 5 Fan-foots.

Poplar Grey, North Elmham, 8th July

Caddisflies included 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, Limnephilus flavicornis and 3 Leptocerus tineiformis. Also of interest another Fly Bug Reduvius personatus.

Fly Bug Reduvius personatus, North Elmham, 8th July

I set a trap that night in my neighbour's garden and went through it the following morning with their grandson again.  There wasn't quite so much in the way of big showy moths but he still seemed to be suitably fascinated.  Another Maple Prominent was probably the best both this time, followed by Miller.

Again I made no attempt to make complete counts of everything, so the following list is just what I could recall: Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 10 Cnephasia sp., 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 6 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Dwarf Cream Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 4 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Clouded Border, Swallow-tailed Moth, Common White Wave, Rosy Footman, Scarce Footman, 4 Common Footmen, 6 Buff Ermines, 2 Double Square-spots, Cabbage Moth, 2 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Light Arches, Marbled Minor agg., 15 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips and Straw Dot.