Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 12: Drills and Piercers I (Dichrorampha to Cydia))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Lead-coloured Drill Dichrorampha plumbana - Found at the meadows on 27th May and 20th June 2020.  None in 2019 and I've not found this species at home yet, probably because it doesn't seem to come to light very readily (nearly all of my records have been netted during the afternoon).

male Lead-coloured Drill Dichrorampha plumbana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

male Lead-coloured Drill Dichrorampha plumbana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th June 2020

Dingy Drill Dichrorampha sedetana - None.  I've never seen this one but although there aren't many records in Norfolk the same was true of plumbana and aeratana when I started finding them.


Obscure Drill Dichrorampha aeratana - Found at the meadows on 25th and 27th May 2020.  None in 2019 and like plumbana I've not recorded this species at home and have only found it during the afternoons/evenings.

male Obscure Drill Dichrorampha aeratana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020

male Obscure Drill Dichrorampha aeratana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana - Caught in the garden on 8th August (2) and 23rd August 2019, my first here in 3 years (though I'd had 1-3 in each of 2014 to 2016).  3 again in 2020 with one on 8th May and 2 on 10th August  Also recorded next door twice in August 2019.  6 at the meadows were mostly in May, just one in August.

male Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th May 2019

male Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham, 23rd August 2019

male Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

male Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana - Trapped in the garden on 23rd July (2) and 5th August 2019.  Like the previous species these were my first here since 2016, but that gap was even more unexpected in light of the 17 I recorded here in 2015-16.  2020 was a real bumper year for this species here, completely unprecedented - I caught 75 between 15th June and 23rd August including 15 on 11th August.  Also 2 at the meadows on 13th July 2019 but despite the large numbers in my garden in 2020 only one at the meadows on the relatively late date of 30th August.  Although the differences in wing-shape between this and the previous species can be reasonably obvious I still find some individuals are confusing and with the additional risk of overlooking some of the scarcer Dichrorampha I resort to checking many by referring to their genitalia.  In fact in 2020 I started to feel more comfortable with them but when the numbers were getting so large and other moth-trappers weren't reporting unusual numbers of this species I started to doubt myself again and resorted to checking  more again.  Fortunately these all proved to be correctly so I quickly reverted to checking a minority of less clear-cut individuals.  However, I still think there is plenty of opportunity to go wrong with these - although I don't think there were any suspected simpliciana that proved to be anything else on dissection there were 3-4 suspected acuminatana that proved to be simliciana on dissection.

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2019

female Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 5th August 2019

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 22nd July 2020

female Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 5th August 2020

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

male Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 10th August 2020

Square-spot Drill Dichrorampha sequana - None.  I've only seen this species at one site in Great Ryburgh (where there were 3 along a verge) but I should imagine it must occur closer to home as well.


Gold-fringed Drill Dichrorampha vancouverana - None.  I haven't seen this species since 2013 and there aren't any records local to here, but there's no reason why it shouldn't turn up round here.


Narrow-blotch Drill Dichrorampha flavidorsana - None.  I'm yet to see this species.  In theory it could occur round here but I haven't got any Tansy on my patch so perhaps not as likely as some of the other species missing from my local area.


Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana - One found resting on some Field Maple at the meadows on 25th May 2020.  I had singles of this species in the garden in 3 consecutive years 2015-2017 but not since.

male Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana, North Elmham, 25th May 2020

Common Drill Dichrorampha petiverella - None.  Despite seeing 10 at 3 sites in 2013 I haven't seen this species since.  It's not far away but I haven't yet seen it in the North Elmham area.


Silver-lined Drill Dichrorampha plumbagana - None.  This species seems to be cropping up more often recently so I am optimistic that I will find one locally before too long.


Pea Moth Cydia nigricana - 3 at the meadows on 22nd-25th May 2019 and 2 there on 8th May 2020.  I've not seen this at home yet but that's not surprising for a species mainly found in the afternoons rather than being attracted to light, though I did get one come to light at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020 so it's not impossible!

female Pea Moth Cydia nigricana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019

female Pea Moth Cydia nigricana, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana - None in 2019 (must be one of the commonest moths I didn't see that year) and just 2 in 2020 (one at the meadows on 15th May and one at Frost's Common on 21st May).  I've only ever had one in my garden (2017).

female Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th May 2020

Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana, Forst's Common, 21st May 2020

Pine-cone Piercer Cydia conicolana - None.  I've only seen one of these and that wasn't confirmed (someone took it away to gen det but I never heard back about it), so it's a species I'd be keen to see again.  There are no records very close to here though (Keith's 2020 record at Litcham is closest), so not sure what my chances of finding it locally are.  I'd be equally or even more happy to find any of the other scarcer conifer-feeding Cydia round here, the only ones of which I've ever seen anywhere are Norfolk's only Larch Piercer Cydia illutana and the cosmophorana below.


Scarce Pine Piercer Cydia cosmophorana - One at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020 was the first time I've encountered this species.  There were 5 records in Norfolk in 2020 but only 6 prior to 2020.

female Scarce Pine Piercer Cydia cosmophorana, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Codling Moth Cydia pomonella - 3 in the garden between 9th and 24th July 2019 and 6 between 25th June and 12th August 2020.  I've had between 2 and 8 of these each year since I've lived here.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.


Sallow-shoot Piercer Cydia servillana - One netted at Frost's Common on 21st May 2020, the first moth seen on arrival and the 5th record for Norfolk.  I'm still hoping for a repeat of my 2018 record at the meadows.

Sallow-shoot Piercer Cydia servillana, Frost's Common, 21st May 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

Strawberry Tortrix and Fern Smut

I trapped two lifers on the night of Saturday 17th June. The first was clearly an Acleris laterana/comariana agg. but a very early date for laterana, and it was a bit on the small side.  I'd suspected comariana a year ago but the blighter escaped before I could confirm it, so I took great care not to let this one bolt for it!  One of the key differences in the genitalia are the size and arrangement of cornuti in the aedeagus (or in layman's terms, spiky bits in its willy!) but this one didn't have any cornuti (they sometimes leave them behind when mating).  The other features looked good but I wasn't 100% sure so sent a photo to Jon Clifton to check.  He confirmed what I thought - that it was a Strawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana.

Strawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

The second was instantly recognisable as a Fern Smut Psychoides filicivora, but sadly it was also the only moth out of over 200 that didn't survive the night.  I started going through the trap at first light but by the time I reached it it was already dead in the bottom of an eggbox.  Still, a new moth for the house even if I am still yet to see one alive.  First recorded in Norfolk as recently as 2010 (Dersingham and Cromer) but there are now lots of records, mainly from the Broads.  Nevertheless despite Dick having recorded over 20 in five years at Dersingham, mine is only the second site in VC28 (west Norfolk) where it has been recorded.

dead Fern Smut Psychoides filicivora (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

One more moth was new for the garden: Hemlock Yellow Conch Aethes beatricella.

Hemlock Yellow Conch Aethes beatricella, North Elmham, 17th June

Another excellent moth which I saw for the first time last year was Satyr Pug.  This one was a bit fresher than last year's and perhaps should have been identified, or at least suspected, without dissection.  Sadly for would-be twitchers I didn't get round to looking at it that carefully until it was too late.

Satyr Pug (female, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

Other new moths for the year were Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana, Drinker, 2 Lilac Beauties and 2 Rosy Footmen.

Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, North Elmham, 17th June

Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham, 17th June

Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 17th June

Drinker, North Elmham, 17th June

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 17th June

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 17th June

Also recorded were 2 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, 2 Burdock Nebs Metzneria lappella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, 8 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 6 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, 2 Twin-barred Knot-horns Homoeosoma sinuella, 4 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla, 2 Common Emeralds, Small Fan-footed Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Carpet, 2 Barred Straws, Broken-barred Carpet, Green Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Common Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Orange Footman, Common Footman, 7 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, 4 Double Square-spots, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 7 Brown Rustics, Dark Arches, 5 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Uncertains, Marbled White Spot, 43 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and 3 Fan-foots.

A good selection of caddisflies included 2 Ecnomus tenellus, Hydropsyche pellucidula,  Limnephilus lunatus, Athripsodes aterrimus, 2 Leptocerus tineiformis (new for the year) and 2 Mystacides longicornis.

Leptocerus tineiformis (male), North Elmham, 17th June

Bugs included Common Green Caspid Lygocoris pabulinus (new for the year) and the water boatman Sigara falleni, a lifer for me.

Sigara falleni, North Elmham, 17th June

Beetles consisted of my first Brown Chafer Serica brunnea of the year and another Cantharis cryptica.

Brown Chafer Serica brunnea, North Elmham, 17th June

Mayflies included 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, new for the year.

Blue-winged Olive Serratella ignita, North Elmham, 17th June

Lots of moths and a rare spider

Getting behind again as the peak moth season leaves me with far more to process than I have time to process.  I'm sure I'll catch up eventually, but I have a study full of material waiting to be examined and it isn't going to be quick!

Next up is 23rd June - over 200 moths of 72 species isn't bad I suppose, but not fantastic for this time of year. Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella was new for the house while Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Privet Hawkmoth and Rosy Footman were new for the year here.

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 23rd June

Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd June

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 23rd June

The others were 2 Cypress Tip Moths Argyresthia cupressella, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Light Grey Torrixes Cnephasia incertana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 13 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 5 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 7 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Common Swift, Pebble Hook-tip, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Scorched Wings, 2 Peppered Moths, 5 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, Pale Oak Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, 2 Common Waves, 4 Clouded Silvers, 2 Light Emeralds, Elephant Hawkmoth, Pale Prominent, 2 Buff-tips, 3 Common Footmen, 5 White Ermines, 10 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Flame, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, 8 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Dusky Brocade, 6 Middle-barred Minors, 2 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 10 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, 33 Straw Dots, 3 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Dusky Brocade, North Elmham, 23rd June

Other insects included the Mayfly Cloeon Dipterum, the Caddisfly Hydropsyche pellucidula (3 in fact) and a Cockchafer.

Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 23rd June

Next day was poorer with far fewer moths and only 47 species.  Among those Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Double Square-spot and Clay were new for the year.

Clay, North Elmham, 24th June

Double Square-spot, North Elmham, 24th June

Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

There was a good count of 22 Buff Ermines, but that's still a little way off my peak count last year.  The others were Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Common Swift, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Eyed Hawkmoth, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, 3 Cinnabars, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Common Wainscot, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, Uncertain, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles, 8 Straw Dots, Snout and Small Fan-foot.

Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, North Elmham, 24th June

Marbled Minor (female, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 24th June

The only caddisflies identified were Hydropsyche pellucidula and Phryganea grandis.

Phryganea grandis, North Elmham, 24th June

Andy B likes his spiders and a little while ago after showing some to me at Burnham Overy he texted to say he'd found a really rare one.  Well on 25th June I returned to Burnham Overy and found Andy standing with another chap who was lying flat on his belly in the saltmarsh photographing something.  I wandered over and Andy showed me the rare spider he'd found - this one being an egg-sac carrying female: Yellow-striped Bear Spider Arctosa flavolineata.

Yellow-striped Bear Spider Arctosa flavolineata, Burnham Overy, 25th June

A Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella and 4 Cinnabars were the only moths seen but a Bee turned out to be a Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee, which from the range map in the new Bees book looks like is restricted to the NW coast in Norfolk, although the NBN Gateway shows it as being recorded fare more widespreadly in the county.  Not sure the reason for the discrepancy.

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris, Burnham Overy, 25th June

A single Pyramidal Orchid as nice to see.