Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 13: Piercers II (Cydia to Grapholita))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana - At least 38 in the garden between 10th July and 2nd September 2019 (though not counted on several dates so possibly more) and 32 between 8th July and 8th September 2020.  Number-wise this species has been fairly consistent here each year.  Elsewhere seen in next door's garden 3 times and at the meadows on 4 dates between 26th July and 3rd September 2019 and 2 on 7th August 2020.  Also at Bintree Wood, Swanton Great Wood and Row Heath (West Runton).

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana - Singles at home on 21st and 24th July 2019 but none here in 2020.  2020 wasn't my first blank year but I had 1-2 every year from 2016-19.  Also singles at the meadows on 7th and 26th July 2019 and 3 there on 7th August 2020 plus one at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020.

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Vagrant Piercer Cydia amplana - None.  This species has always been regarded as a rare migrant and as such the odds of me getting one here would be very small.  But in very recent years there have been so many records at inland Norfolk sites it must surely have become established.  Some of these aren't all that far away, like one at Sparham and a ludicrous 20+ that Dave Norgate has had at Toftwood, so I now have high hopes of finding my first before too long.


Scarce Maple Piercer Cydia inquinatana - Having been at the event where Norfolk's first (and Britain's 4th) record of this species was taken, but having not seen it as I didn't hear about it on the night, it was nice to catch one in my own garden on 11th July 2020.  Of course there have been quite a few in Norfolk since that first one in 2011 - I think mine is the 16th.

female Scarce Maple Piercer Cydia inquinatana, North Elmham, 11th July 2020

Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana - 6 between 23rd July and 21st August 2019 and 15 between 21st May and 17th August 2020.  Numbers don't fluctuate all that much here and these were my worst and best years respectively.  Also 2 next door, one at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

female Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Triple-stripe Piercer Grapholita compositella - One netted at the meadows on 20th July 2020 was only my second record of this species although it was one I was half-expecting there as there's an abundance of clover.  Not sure how often this species comes to light so my chances of catching one at home are perhaps not so high?

Triple-stripe Piercer Grapholita compositella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th July 2020

Dark Gorse Piercer Grapholita internana - None.  I've not had this species very locally, though I always look for it around the gorse at the meadows.


Crescent Piercer Grapholita orobana - None.  This seems to be quite a scarce species in Norfolk but there's no reason I can see why it shouldn't occur locally.  I've not seen it yet though, anywhere.


Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella - 6 at the meadows over the 2 years between 22nd April and 12th May.  I haven't recorded this species at home yet but I usually see it in the day-time.

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th May 2019

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2020

Kent Fruit Piercer Grapholita lobarzewskii - following Norfolk's second record in my garden in 2018 I had another 5 in 2019!  The first turned up to the lobarzewskii pheremone lure on 29th June and I imagine the next two were attracted to it to, but they actually turned up in the moth trap that night.  Then there were 2 more to lure on 12th July.  One more in 2020 on 11th July.

male Kent Fruit Piercers Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

male Kent Fruit Piercers Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 12th July 2019

male Kent Fruit Piercer Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 11th July 2020

Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  None at home where this species has been very irregular - none most years but 6 in 2016 and one in 2018.  None in 2020.

male Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Deep-brown Piercer Grapholita tenebrosana - None.  I've never seen this species but apparently it comes to the pheremone lure for Grapholita funebrana so I'm hoping to attract one soon.


Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana - One here on 27th July 2019 was only my second here to MV light (first in 2015).  2 came to the pheremone lure for Grapholita lobarzewskii on 11th July 2020 (the second time I've caught them here using this method).  Also one to light at Weybourne on 5th July 2019. 

male Pale-bordered Piercers Grapholita janthinana, North Elmham, 10th July 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

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.

First garden Campion

New moths for the year on Friday 14th July were Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Black Arches and Lesser Common Rustic but the highlight of the night was a new macro species for the house, albeit an overdue one - a Campion.

Campion, North Elmham, 14th July

Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana (left) and Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana (right), North Elmham, 14th July

Black Arches, North Elmham, 14th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Other moths that night were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 7 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, 2 Least Carpets, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Yellow Shell, Small Rivulet, Currant Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 3 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, 2 Yellow-tails, 6 Rosy Footmen, 24 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 29 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 3 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 22 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

Beetles consisted of my first Nicrophorus investigator (a sexton beetle) this year and 2 Aphodius rufipes.  There were also two Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies) which started off as female subimagos but moulted into imagos during the following afternoon.

Aphodius rufipes, North Elmham, 14th July

Poind Olive Cloeon dupterum (sub-imago above, the same individual having moulted to imago below), North Elmham, 14th July

The following night there were four more additions to the garden year list: Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Small Scallop.

Horse Chesetnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, North Elmham, 15th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristellla, North Elmham, 15th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 15th July

Small Scallop, North Elmham, 15th July

Other moths that night were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, New Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 13 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 4 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 16 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, 8 Small Fan-footed Waves, 11 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Pale Prominent, 4 Yellow-tails, 4 Rosy Footmen, 21 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 4 Buff Footmen, 17 Common Footmen, 4 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Double Square-spot, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Slender Brindles, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 16 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Among the green lacewings Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the year and there were 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Mayflies were represented by another Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.  Shieldbugs included my first Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug) of the year and a Birch Shieldbug; there was also the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 15th July

Lolly Moor and Marsham Heath

I thought a pleasant warm evening on 31st August might be good for dusking so I popped down to Lolly Moor NWT reserve.  It felt a bit slow but in the end it wasn't bad: White-speckled Clothes Moth Nemapogon koenigi (just realised this has changed its name from N. wolffiella), Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 18 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, 5 Straw Dots and Pinion-streaked Snout.

White-speckled Clothes Moth Nemapogon koenigi, Lolly Moor, 31st August

Pinion-streaked Snout, Lolly Moor, 31st August

One spider that found itself in the net was duly photographed and subsequently identified as Linyphia triangularis, the first time I've identified this species.   Other non-lepidopteran interest included the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus and a Hobby.

Linyphia triangularis, Lolly Moor, 31st August

Hemerobius humulinus, Lolly Moor, 31st August

Moths at home that night consisted of Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 3 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Common Carpets, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, 3 Green Carpets, Treble-bar, 15 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 4 Dusky Thorns, 6 Light Emeralds, 8 Flame Shoulders, 21 Large Yellow Underwings, 10 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 8 Square-spot Rustics, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, 3 Centre-barred Sallows, 6 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, 2 Burnished Brasses, 12 Straw Dots, 9 Snouts and another Pinion-streaked Snout.

The following night Dave and I trapped at Marsham Heath.  We didn't manage to trap any of our targets but found several noteworthy moths nonetheless.  Perhaps the best was Brown Knot-horn Pyla fusca, a species I had only seen once before, at the same place in 2012. 

Brown Knot-horn Pyla fusca, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Another 'second' was this Red Birch Slender Caloptilia betulicola.

Red Birch Slender Caloptilia betuclicola (male, gen det), Marsham Heath, 1st September

Other species I don't see often included Birch Sober Anacampsis blattariella and 5 Dark Grass-veneers Crambus hamella.

Birch Sober Anacampsis blattariella, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Dark Grass-veneer Crambus hamella, Marsham Heath, 1st September

We saw lots (at least 25) of Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, but at least a lot of them looked bigger than usual and the majority were dark forms (none were the pale form that I usually see most often though some approached that).  Some were quite tatty but others were very fresh, yet the Cydia splendana I see at home peak in late July and are almost over by September.  It was almost as though these were a different species!  Confused, I retained a selection and checked them when I got home - they were indeed Cydia splendana.  Interestingly I see Cydia splendana feeds on Oak and Sweet Chestnut.  There are one or two oaks near my garden but no Sweet Chestnut nearby so far as I know.  Most of the other places I've trapped this species in the past have been near Oaks too.  Here at Marsham Heath there were lots of Sweet Chestnut (and some of these were caught flying around the Sweet Chestnuts).  Is it possible that Oak-feeding populations are paler and smaller and earlier on average than Sweet Chestnut feeding populations?  Pure speculation without more data, but something I shall be interested to study in future.  Maybe they're cryptic species...

Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Other moths we recorded were 6 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 6 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Birch Marbles Apotomis betuletana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 4 Small Birch Bells Epinotia ramella, Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 65 Grey Gorse Piercers Cydia ulicetana, 8 Ground-moss Greys Eudonia truncicolella, Orange Swift, Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Grey Pine Carpets, Spruce Carpet, Green Carpet, 4 Double-striped Pugs, Tawny-barred Angle, 3 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Light Emeralds, Black Arches, Flame Shoulder, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spot Rustic, Copper Underwing and 2 Silver Ys.

Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Small Birch Bell Eponotia ramella, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella, Marsham Heath, 1st September

Other things at Marsham Heath included Southern Hawker and the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius humulinus.  On the way home we saw a small (presumably young) Badger beside the B1145 just west of Reepham.