Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 1: Fruit-tree Tortrixes and others (Olinida to Zelotherses))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE)


White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana - Singles in the garden trap on 24th June and 28th September 2019 and 17th July 2020.  I have had an average of one per year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 21st June 2019 and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana - Singles in the garden trap on 5th and 26th June 2019 and then 5 between 17th May and 22nd June 2020.  I have recorded this species here every year with an average of 3 per year - 5 in a year is the best yet.

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 5th June 2019

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 17th May 2020

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana - 7 at home between 19th June and 22nd July 2019 and 12 between 18th June and 10th August 2020.  In the 5 years I've been here I've had 25-29 in 2 years (2015 and 2018) but only 5-12 in the other 4 years.  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows and 3 at Weybourne.

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham, 18th June 2020

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana - 3 here between 24th and 29th June 2019 and 4 between 24th June and 26th July 2020.  I record this species here most years but have never had more than 3 in a year before.  Elsewhere just one at Weybourne and one at Bintree Wood.

Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

Common Tortrix Capua vulgana - None.  Despite its name this species appears to be far from common in Norfolk and I've only recorded it a couple of times, neither of which were near here.


Pine Tortrix Archips oporana - None.  I've only recorded this species once, in the Brecks, but it seems to be locally at one or two other sites as Dave N has had loads of them in his pine-free garden in Toftwood.  Maybe not too big an ask for one to turn up here...?


Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana - At least 63 here (but not counted on a couple of nights) between 16th June and 31st July 2019 and 60 between 12th June and 5th September 2020 (including 12 on 24th June).  That's a fairly average year, perhaps a little below average.  Elsewhere recorded at the meadows on 4 dates and at Bintree Wood.  Roughly 95% of those caught here are males.

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 14th June 2020

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

Brown Oak Tortrix Archips crataegana - None.  I've only recorded this species at home once (2018).


Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana - 4 here between 24th June and 4th July 2019 and 4 between 16th June and 18th July, slightly above average.  Also 3 at the meadows.

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Rose Tortrix Archips rosana - None.  I've caught 5 here in 6 years but all of them in just 2 years (2016 and 2018).  I recorded a dozen at Bawdeswell in my last 3 years there but it's only very recently that they've started being recorded from lots of different sites in Norfolk.


Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana - Singles here on 26th July 2019 and 10th August 2020, and one next door on 8th August 2019.  Although I had 7 here in 2016, 1-2 a year is normal.  It is one of a handful of species that I used to see more often at my old house in Bawdeswell.


Yellow Larch Tortrix Ptycholomoides aeriferana - None.  I've only recorded this species at home on one occasion (2016).


Brindled Tortrix Ptycholomoides lecheana - None.  I've had these here 3 times (2017 and 2018).


White-faced Tortrix Pandemis cinnamomeana - One at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and 2 at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August.  None in 2020.  This species is conspicuously absent from my current garden list.


Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corlyana - An average year here in 2019 with 4 between 30th July and 30th August and a good year here in 2020 with 8 between 5th and 16th August.  Also one next door and 2 at Swanton Great Wood in 2019 and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.  A caterpillar at Foxley Wood was possibly this species but I'm not sure enough to record it as such.  Although photographed on a Hazel leaf it was hanging from a different tree (probably Oak) when found.

possible Chequerered Fruit-tree Tortrix caterpillar Pandemis corylana, Foxley Wood, 17th August 2019

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana - A total of 20 here between 15th June and 7th July 2019, above average.  6 on 24th June was my equal-highest count here and was more than the total number I saw in 2020, 5 between 20th June and 24th July (my worst year here).  Just one elsewhere, at Weybourne.

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, North Elmham, 15th June 2019

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana - Recorded on 9 nights here between 5th July and 8th August 2019 (not counted every night but involving at least 15 individuals).  My worst year here so far.  20 between 24th June and 19th August 2020.  Elsewhere 5 caught at the meadows.


Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana - 4 recorded here between 25th May and 5th July 2019 which is my equal-best year (I had none here in 2018) and one on 23rd May 2020.  Also one at the meadows.

Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana - Totals of 22 between 14th June and 12th July 2019 and 26 between 14th June and 16th July 2020.  These were my worst showings in the 6 years I've lived here.  Apart from one in next door's garden and a small number at my previous house in Bawdeswell I've never recorded this species anywhere else.


Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana - Recorded at home on 20th and 23rd June 2019 and 3 between 20th August and 22nd September 2020.  Neither of the 2019 records were in my trap - the first was found indoors and the second netted during the morning.  The latter is not surprising given how many I've seen flying in day-time at Burnham Overy over the years, but I think all my previous records here (and those in 2020) have been in the moth trap (not quite annual but 1-3 most years).

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 20th June 2019

Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was my only record that year.  I average 3 a year at home and this was my first blank year here.  I didn't have any at home again in 2020 but did find singles at the meadows on 3 dates between 9th June and 13th July and one at Foxley Wood.

Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

Hornet Moth

I put the Hornet pheromone lure out on 30th June and caught 2 Hornet Moths and a new hoverfly for me, Eupeodes luniger.

Hornet Moth, North Elmham, 30th June

Eupeodes luniger, North Elmham, 30th June

Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Least Carpet, Dot Moth, Double Lobed, the caddisfly Leptocerus tineiformis and the beetle Lagria hirta were all new for the year that night.

Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, North Elmham, 30th June

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 30th June

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 30th June

Double Lobed, North Elmham, 30th June

Leptocerus tineiformis, North Elmham, 30th June

Lagria hirta, North Elmham, 30th June

Other highlights included another Wood Groundling Parachronistis albiceps, hot on the heels of my first here three nights earlier, and another Gold-sheen Clothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella.

Gold-sheen Cothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella, North Elmham, 30th June

Other moths were Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 12 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 2 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla, Ghost Moth, Small Emerald, 3 Small Blood-veins, Lesser Cream Wave, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, 2 Barred Straws, 2 V-Pugs, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, 2 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Mottled Beauties, Light Emerald, 9 Common Footmen, 11 Buff Ermines, 3 Short-cloaked Moths, 3 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Double Square-spots, Smoky Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 14 Uncertains, 6 Rustics, 3 Mottled Rustics, 4 Beautiful Hook-tips, 2 Straw Dots, Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot.

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham, 30th June

Mother of Pearl Pluroptya ruralis, North Elmham, 30th June

Best moth got away

Probably the best moth on the night of 3rd July got away, though I'm still hoping to recover it.  It was an Acleris sp. of the comariana/laterana type.  Every such Acleris I've ever checked has been laterana - I'm yet to see a confirmed (or even suspected) comariana.  But this was early (my earliest laterana so far is late July) and comariana starts flying early.  There had to be a good chance this was my first Stawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana.  I took one photo, went to take a better one and it scuttled.  It didn't exaclty fly, just fluttered along the desktop to a pile of papers.  I lifted the edge of the papers expecting to see it, but nothing.  I went through the pile piece by piece checking each one until I got to the bottom, and the moth still hadn't appeared!  I suspect it was on its last legs and may still be in my study somewhere.  Maybe when I have a good spring clean I'll find it...  That might be a while!

Acleris laterana agg., North Elmham, 3rd July - in view of the date perhaps most likely Strawberry Tortrix Acleris comariana, but got away before it could be confirmed

A few other moths were new for the year: 2 Speckled Case-bearers Coleophora sternipennella, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Barred Yellow, July Highflyer and Swallow-tailed Moth.

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 3rd July

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham, 3rd July

July Highflyer, North Elmham, 3rd July

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Speckled Case-bearer Colephora sternipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd July

Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, North Elmham, 3rd July

Other micros were Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 8 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 4 False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella and Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella.

Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, North Elmham, 3rd July

False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, North Elmham, 3rd July

The other macros were Buff Arches, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Barred Straw, Green Carpet, Clouded Border, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawkmoth, 2 Common Footmen, 10 Buff Ermines, 7 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Double Square-spots, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 3 Dark Arches, Dusky Brocade, 2 Marbled Minors, 2 Tawny Marbled Minors, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, 3 Straw Dots, 5 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Small Angle Shades, North Elmham, 3rd July

Caddisflies included my first confirmed Agrypnia varia, probably Hydropsyche siltalai and 3 Mystacides longicornis.  On the beetle front Summer Chafer was my first this year.

Agrypnia varia, North Elmham, 3rd July

Summer Chafer, North Elmham, 3rd July

End of June

New for the year on 30th June were Brown Apple Midget Phyllonorycter blancardella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla and Small Yellow Wave.

Brown Apple Midget Phyllonorycter blancardella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 30th June

White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, North Elmham, 30th June

Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, North Elmham, 30th June

Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, North Elmham, 30th June

Red-barred Torrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham, 30th June

Other moths recorded this night were probable Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella, Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, 2 Brown House-moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 12 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrices Hedya pruniana, 4 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 7 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, 2 Fenland Pearls Anania perlucidalis, Common Emerald, 4 Dwarf Cream Waves, 6 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, 4 Barred Straws, Common Marbled Carpet, Barred Yellow, Common Pug, Scorched Wing, 5 Brimstone Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, 9 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Clubs, 3 Heart and Darts, Flame Shoulder, Double Square-spot, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, 4 Brown Rustics, Middle-barred Minor, 6 Uncertains, 4 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 14 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots. 

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 30th June - my first female of the year

Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, North Elmham, 30th June

Two or three of these colourful bugs, Phylus palliceps, were my first examples of this species.

Phylus palliceps, North Elmham, 30th June

That's all I've got time for tonight, but look out for posts covering July - loads of interesting stuff coming up including some great moths on 1st July...