Review of 2019 and 2020 - Caddisflies: Goeridae, Lepidostomidae and part 1 of Limnephilidae

Family GOERIDAE


Medium Sedge Goera pilosa - A total of 8 in the garden trap between 23rd June and 30th July 2019 and 11 between 17th June and 8th August 2020; also one at the meadows on 22nd August 2019.

male Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 23rd June 2019

female Medium Sedges Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

female Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

female Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 17th June 2020

female Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 20th June 2020

Silo nigricornis - None.  There are loads of records of this species in Norfolk so it is perhaps surprising that I haven't come across it yet.

Silo pallipes - Female in the garden trap on 10th July 2019 and 25th June 2020.  I'd caught this species twice before, both in 2017.

female Silo pallipes, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

female Silo pallipes, North Elmham, 25th June 2020

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Family LEPIDOSTOMATIDAE


Crunoecia irrorata - Singles caught in the garden on 21st July and 25th August 2019 and 18th and 31st July 2020.  Also a male netted between Carsaig and Rubha Dubh on Mull on 10th June 2019.

male Crunoecia irrorata, between Carsaig and Rubha Dubh (Mull), 10th June 2019

male Crunoecia irrorata, North Elmham, 21st July 2019

female Crunoecia irrorata, North Elmham, 25th August 2019

male Crunoecia irrorata, North Elmham, 18th July 2020 - showing distinctive genital capsule

female Crunoecia irrorata, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum - 3 caught in the garden on consecutive nights 27th to 29th August 2019 and 6 between 14th August and 8th September; elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and 2 at the meadows on 8th September 2020.  All 12 were females and I didn't alwasys find it easy to eliminate Lepidostoma basale (although as far as I know that species doesn't occur in East Anglia).  The Barnard and Ross Handbook points to a single feature on its diagrams of the genitalia, the shape of the subgenital plate, and on at least a few individuals (especially the first one in 2020) this looked better for basale.  But there are other differences in the diagrams, although when they're not arrowed or drawn attention to in the text I'm never sure if these are differences between the species or just differences between the specimens used as a basis for the diagram.  Anyway, hirtum is illustrated with wide shoulders (not a technical term!) before the tip of the abdomen, and all mine shared this characteristic - the basale diagram in the Handbook shows much less of a step.  When I first encountered this problem I found a photo of hirtum genitalia online that looked similar (I can't find it now - maybe it was on the defunct website but I thought it was more recent than that), so given basale is so unlikely here I think it's safe to call them all hirtum.  Photos of the genitalia of the most troublesome individual are below, along with a more straightforward one.  Please let me know if you disagree.

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 28th August 2019

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 29th August 2019

presumed female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 14th August 2020 - showing what looks like a very flat rounded tip to the subgenital plate (as on L basale); this happened to be the first time I've found the corpus bursae on a caddisfly - the ductus bursae is very thin and delicate so I assume this normally breaks and gets lost during the preparation (as far as I know this isn't helpful for identification but was of interest to me

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 24th August 2020 - this one shows a subgenital plate with a longer more narrowly rounded tip as I would expect on L hirtum

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 30th August 2020

female Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

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Family APATANIIDAE


Apatania muliebris - None.  Judging from the NBN Atlas maps this species occurs in the Wensum Valley but I've not come across it here or anywhere else yet.

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Family LIMNEPHILIDAE


Drusus annulatus - None.  The NBN Atlas maps indicate that this species has occurred nearby but I haven't found it yet.


Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa - One caught in the garden on 22nd October 2019 and 4 between 21th and 21st October (I had caught 8 here in 2018).  Elsewhere 2 caught at the meadows on 12th October and 4 there on 1st November 2019 and 2 at Stiffkey on 16th October 2020.  The other member of this genus, Anabolia brevipennis, occurs in Norfolk but there are no records on the NBN Atlas for the Wensum Valley area.

male Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th October 2019

male Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, North Elmham, 21st October 2019

male Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st November 2019

Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, North Elmham, 12th October 2020<

Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, Stiffkey, 16th October 2020

Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus - A total of 56 between 1st May 31st October 2019 and 39 between 8th May and 29th October 2020.  A total of 22 at the meadows on 7 dates including 15 on 25th May 2020 and elsewhere singles at Swanton Great Wood, Row Heath (West Runton), Whitwell Street and Tresidder (in Cornwall).  My records of this species show two clear peaks, one from May to early June and one from late July to October (especially late August to late September) but I've had a few odd records throughout the diapause in June-July.

Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, North Elmham, 1st May 2019

Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th May 2020

Grammotaulius nigropunctatus - Singles caught in the garden trap on 12th September 2019 and 11th and 23rd April 2020 (I'd had 3-4 in each of the previous 3 years).  Also one at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.  There are no records of the much scarcer Grammotaulius nitidus showing in the NBN Atlas for the Wensum Valley although it does occur in the Broads and has been recorded in the Norwich area.

male Grammotaulius nigropunctatus, North Elmham, 12th September 2019

male Grammotaulius nigropunctatus, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Next page: more Limnephilidae

Or return to Caddisfly index

Honeysuckle Moth and more

Tuesday 15th August was a quiet nigth with just the following trapped: Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 16 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Brimstone Moth, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Small Square-spots, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Common Wainscot, Flounced Rustic and Straw Dot; also the beetle Bradycellus verbasci. There was also Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella and Black Sexton Beetle in the house.

Next day was much better with 47 species of moth including no less than 5 new for the year: Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella (not quite annual here), Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis (a migrant), Tawny Speckled Pug, Narrow-winged Pug (mainly a heathland species but I've had singles at home in each of the last 3 years) and Straw Underwing.

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, North Elmham, 16th August

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 16th August

Tawny Speckled Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Narrow-winged Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Straw Underwing, North Elmham, 16th August

Other moths that night were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 14 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Garden Carpets, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Currant Pug, 9 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 3 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, 3 Flame Shoulders, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 10 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, 2 Common Wainscots, Flounced Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 3 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

Two of the 4 species of caddisflies were new for the year: Crunoecia irrorata and Grammotaulius nigropunctatus; the others were Hydropsyche pellucidula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Crunoecia irrorata (male), North Elmham, 16th August

Grammotaulius nigropunctatus (female), North Elmham, 16th August

A Chrysoperla lucasina was only my second example of this green lacewing; there was also a female Chrysoperla carnea agg.  There were 3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), a Forest Bug, the leafhopper Empoasca vitis and a new beetle for the house: Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 16th August

Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium, North Elmham, 16th August

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.