Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 2: Daggers, Small Yellow Underwing and Sharks

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE)


Reed Dagger Simyra albovenosa - None.  I've not recorded this species locally and I'm well away from the strongholds for this species so haven't really been expecting to.  However there have been a couple of records just down the road at Worthing so maybe there's a chance I will find it round here.


Alder Moth Acronicta alni - None.  I seem to be a bit unlucky with this species as I've only ever seen 2, and they weren't local.  It's common enough and is known to occur locally, so surely I'll find one locally some day.


Dark Dagger Acronicta tridens - None.  I've caught 2 here, in 2016 and 2017, but this seems to be very much scarcer than Grey Dagger.  I've gen detted some reasonable candidates for Dark Dagger that have turned out to be Grey.


Grey Dagger Acronicta psi - Having averaged 7 a year here over the previous 4 years it was a disappointment not to catch any in 2019.  2020 was a bit better with 4 between 1st and 12th August; also one at the meadows on 18th July.

male Grey Dagger, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

male Grey Dagger, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

male Grey Dagger, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

female Grey Dagger, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Sycamore Acronicta aceris - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at the meadows on 7th July.   None at home, and none anywhere in 2020.  I've only ever caught this species at home 3 times, all in 2015.

Sycamore, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Miller Acronicta leporina - None.  I've caught these at home on 3 occasions (2015, 2016 and 2018).


Light Knot Grass Acronicta menyanthidis - One came straight in to the LED lights as soon as I put them on at Allt Mollach on Mull on 13th June 2019.  This was a lifer for me - the species that has an extremely restricted range within Norfolk (but is much commoner in Scotland).  Scottish specimens like this are of a paler subspecies than the ones that occur here in Norfolk.

Light Knot Grass, Allt Molach (Mull), 13th June 2019

Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis - One in the garden trap on 20th July 2019 and 5 here between 21st July and 13th August 2020.  I've recorded this species here each year since moving in but I'd not had more than 4 in a year before.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 22nd August 2019 and 18th July and 7th August 2020. 

Knot Grass, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Knot Grass, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2020

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 13th August 2020

Poplar Grey Subacronicta megacephala - One in the garden trap on 2nd May 2019 was my earliest ever record.  That was the only one I caught at home that year and in 2020 I had 2, on 28th May and 14th June.  I had 16 in 2016 but that was exceptional - I've had 0-2 in every other year.  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows between 17th May and 18th July and one at Bintree Wood.  Although some examples are obvious I don't always find the identification of this species as easy as some recorders seem to - some examples of both Poplar Grey and Sycamore show reasonably prominent pale dorsal spots at the end of the cross-line such that there is overlap with Knot Grass in this character, and other characters seem to be quite variable and/or unclear.  With a few individuals I resort to dissection to satisfy myself the ID is correct, and although they now usually end up being what I thought they were, this wasn't always the case when I started doing this.

Poplar Grey, North Elmham, 2nd May 2019

Poplar Grey, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

Poplar Grey, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

male Poplar Grey, North Elmham, 11th August 2020

Coronet Craniophora ligustri - None in 2019 but 4 caught in the garden between 6th and 15th August 2020.  Annual totals vary from 0-5 here.

Coronet, North Elmham, 6th August 2020

Small Yellow Underwing Panemeria tenebrata - A total of 8 at the meadows between 15th and 25th May 2019 (on 4 dates).  This was the second consecutive year they were found here in reasonable numbers (2018 was the first year the site was surveyed) but none were found in 2020.  Most were, as you would expect for a day-flying species, seen during the day but one was found by torchlight roosting on a leaf of the Apple tree.

Small Yellow Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

Small Yellow Underwings, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019

Shark Cucullia umbratica - None.  I've not yet found this species locally but it has been recorded in my road before so it's surely only a matter of time.


Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae - None.  This must be one of the most common and widespread moths that I've never seen.  Hopefully I'll catch one someday and there's no reason why it shouldn't be local.


Mullein Cucullia verbasci - One caught in the garden on 23rd April 2020, my fifth here (the others all in 2016-17).  Otherwise only larvae seen, but these were easy to find on the Mullein plants along the railway at the meadows - up to 20 between 21st May and 21st June 2019 and up to 18 between 15th May and 26th June 2020 (when there was also 2-3 on a solitary plant at the chapel).  Covid may have helped this species in 2020 as the railway company usually spray the railway every year, completely destroying the Mullein before it flowers and while many of the caterpillars are still feeding.  Presumably the caterpillars are destroyed along with plants.  There was no spraying in 2020 though the company are apparently wanting to spray much earlier in 2021.

Mullein caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

Mullein caterpillars, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th June 2019

Mullein caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th June 2019

Mullein caterpillars, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Mullein, North Elmham, 23rd April 2020

Next page: more Noctuidae

Dark Spinach and Oak Nycteoline

With 442 moths of 92 species, 21st July wasn't exactly a bad night but compared to the previous night it felt a lot quieter.  Indeed there was only one new moth for the year, a Straw Underwing, and nearly half of the moths were the same species: 219 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella.

Straw Underwing, North Elmham, 21st July

The other moths were Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Red Birch Midget Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, 7 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Apple & Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, 3 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Red-barred Tortrixes Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 5 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 14 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, Least Carpet, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 11 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, Small Phoenix, Small Rivulet, Sandy Carpet, Bordered Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 5 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, 3 Scalloped Oaks, 3 Willow Beauties, Pale Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, Round-winged Muslin, 7 Rosy Footmen, 14 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 12 Common Footmen, Ruby Tiger, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 6 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, Light Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 2 Fen Wainscots, 11 Uncertains, Rustic, Mottled Rustic, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and 2 Fan-foots.

4 speices of mayfly was good: there was Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum, 2 Green Drakes Ephemera danica and 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. Caddisflies were 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, Medium Sedge Goera pilosa and Athripsodes aterrimus.  Beetles consisted of another Amara apricaria, Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes and Hydrobius fuscipes.

The following night there were slightly fewer moths and slightly less variety (425 moths of 88 species) but there was some good quality among them including 4 new macros for the year: Dark Spinach, Lime-speck Pug, Coronet and Oak Nycteoline.  The Dark Spinach and Oak Nycteoline were both only my second records here.

Dark Spinach, North Elmham, 22nd July

Coronet, North Elmham, 22nd July

Oak Nycteoline, North Elmham, 22nd July

The other moths were Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 2 Beech Midgets Phyllonorycter maestingella, 8 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, Ash-coloured Crest Acompsia cinerella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Four-spotted Obscures Oegoconia quadripuncta, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 5 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 204 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 5 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 22 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Ghost Moth, Buff Arches, Small Blood-vein, Least Carpet, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, 13 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, 4 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 4 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Willow Beauties, Engrailed, Common Wave, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Rosy Footmen, 14 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, Buff Footman, 11 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, 2 Ruby Tigers, Turnip Moth, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Clays, 3 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, Common Rustic, 9 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Spectacle, Herald, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, Snout and 2 Fan-foots.

Another Conwentzia psociformis was good value, only my second example of this waxfly here following my first earlier this year.  There was also the brown lacewing Micromus variegatus.

Conwentzia psociformis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 22nd July

There was some good quality among the other insects too including a new caddisfly for me, Tinodes unicolor.  A shame it didn't survive long enough for me to photograph it alive... Other caddis were Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Molanna angustata, Athripsodes aterrimus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.

Tinodes unicolor, North Elmham, 22nd July

There was a new beetle for me too: Ophonus puncticeps.  Other beetles were Nicrophorus investigator, Orange Ladybird and Lagria hirta. There was also the leafhopper Oncopsis subangulata.

Ophonus puncticeps, North Elmham, 22nd July

Chris Mills invited me over to go through his moth trap at Themelthorpe, so I rocked up at his on the morning of 23rd to go through what he had caught the previous night.  Two of the highlights were Orache Case-bearer Coleophora saxicolella and Eyelet Sober Thiotricha subocellea, both species I haven't yet recorded here in North Elmham.

Orache Case-bearer Coleophora saxicolella (female, gen det), Themelthorpe, 22nd July

Other things I noted down (and the counts are conservative guesses in many cases) were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Small Red Slender Caloptilia rufipennella, White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 4 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, 2 Lesser Tawny Tubics Batia lunaris, 3 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, probable Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, 4 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Cnephasia sp., Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, 8 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 30 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, probable Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Oak Eggar, Oak Hook-tip, 2 Chinese Characters, 3 Buff Arches, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Small Phoenix, 5 July Highflyers, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, 2 Early Thorns, 7 Willow Beauties, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pebble Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Black Arches, 4 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 6 Common Footmen, 2 Ruby Tigers, 2 Heart and Darts, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Flame Shoulder, 8 Double Square-spots, 4 Clays, 7 Smoky Wainscots, Lunar-spotted Pinion, Small Clouded Brindle, 3 Common Rustic aggs., Beautiful Hook-tip and 2 Straw Dots.

Later that day I had a wander round the Cathedral Meadows where butterflies included 6+ Purple Hairstreaks and 2 Holly Blues.  There were a few moths too: Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis and Blood-vein.

Red Admiral, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Bugs included a mating pair of Forest Bugs, 2 Hairy Shieldbugs and a new species for me swept off Mugwort, Apolygus lucorum.

Forest Bugs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Apolygus lucorum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Other bits and pieces included Field Grasshoppers, the scorpion fly Panorpa communis and this larva I found on some Male Fern.  I think it may be one of the brown lacewings but have no idea how to tell which one, if indeed I am right.

unidentified larva, possibly of a brown lacewing sp., North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Flies included the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade Fly), a couple of Noon Flies Mesembrina meridiana which I don't have any record of having identified before and a dance fly which I think is probably Tachydromia umbrarum.  I found a key for these but struggled to use it as it contained so many terms I wasn't familiar with (mostly unhelpfully abbreviated).  There are a lot of similar species in the genus but this seems to be one of the commoner species and there weren't any couplets in the key leading to this species that I thought went the other way (but there were plenty for which I wasn't sure either way).

Marmalade Fly Episyrphus balteatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Noon Flies Mesembrina meridiana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

probable Tacydromia umbrarum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Other things noted were the barkfly Graphopsocus cruciatus, a Negro Ant Formica fusca and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Negro Ant Formica fusca, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd July

Cherry Bark Moth in all its colourful shining glory

Another Ginger Button Acleris aspersana was probably the highlight on 3rd August.

Ginger Button Acleris aspersana, North Elmham, 3rd August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 23 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros consisted of Pebble Hook-tip, Small Fan-footed Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, Shaded Broad-bar, Magpie Moth, Early Thorn, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 5 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 11 Common Footmen, Ruby Tiger, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, Knot Grass, Coronet, 2 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 7 Common Rustics, Ear Moth, 7 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Spectacles, 6 Straw Dots and Fan-foot.

Coronet, North Elmham, 3rd August

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 3rd August

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd August

Other insects included the Green Lacewing Dichochrysa flavifrons and another new leafhopper for me, Balclutha punctata.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 3rd August

The next night was a bit better with my second and third ever Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi.

Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi, North Elmham, 4th August

Another good duo were 2 Cherry Bark Moths Enarmonia formosana.  I only saw this species for the first (and second) time last year and one of the two this time was a fresh example looking stunning in all its colourful shining glory.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana, North Elmham, 4th August

This Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana was a form (f. caeruleaoatrana) that I've rarely seen before.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana (f. caeruleaoatrana), North Elmham, 4th August

Other micros included Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 25 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis and 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis.

The only macro new for the year was somewhat less exciting than the micros - a Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 4th August

The other macros were Small Fan-footed Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Small Rivulets, Wormwood Pug, 3 Magpie Moths, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, 3 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, Black Arches, 2 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, 5 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, 3 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, Straw Underwing, 3 Dun-bars, 5 Dark Arches, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, Flounced Rustic, Ear Moth, 5 Uncertains, Nut-tree Tussock, 12 Straw Dots and 2 Fan-foots.