Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 9: Satellite to Dark Brocade

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Satellite Eupsilia transversa - In 2019 one caught in the garden on 9th February and then singles on 5th and 26th October.  In 2020 singles on 17th March and 1st April and 3 between 20th October and 25th November.  I average about 6 a year here and have never had less than 3.  At the meadows singles on 4th October 2019, 29th September 2020 (my earliest ever autumn record) and 8th November.

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Satellite, North Elmham, 17th March 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Olive Ipimorpha subtusa - None.  Apparently some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one, here in 2018.


Lesser-spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis - Singles in the garden on 4th August 2019 and 1st August 2020, my first ever records of this species anywhere.

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 4th August 2019

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina - At least 10 between 12th and 31st July 2019 (not counted on one night but unlikely to have been much more than one) and 20 between 10th July and 10th August 2020.  2019 was my worst year here for this species - on average I catch around 28 a year.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 3 dates and one at Bintree Wood.

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Lunar-spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina - Singles trapped in the garden on 16th and 24th July 2019.  I've caught exactly 2 here in 4 out of the 6 years I've lived here (but none in 2017 or 2020).


Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago - 2019 was my worst year for this species with just 2 singles caught on consecutive nights 2nd and 3rd September; 7 in 2020 between 5th and 15th September.  The average annual tally is 9-10.  Elsewhere 10 at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020 and one at the meadows.

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis - None.  I had never recorded this species anywhere until 2018 and still haven't found it locally, which is surprising given the large numbers that occur in Foxley Wood, for example (which had a direct line of sight to my light when I lived in Bawdeswell).  Surely it will turn up here sometime...


Suspected Parastichtis suspecta - None.  I caught this species twice when I lived in Bawdeswell but so far haven't found it here in North Elmham.


Dingy Shears Apterogenum ypsillon - One in the garden on 10th July 2019, the 5th I've caught here in 5 years but none here in 2020.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Dingy Shears, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Merveille du Jour Griposia aprilina - 5 trapped in the garden between 16th October and 2nd November 2019 and 14 between 11th and 22nd October 2020 including a record count of 4 on the last date.  I average 9-10 a year

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 23rd October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 11th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 19th October 2020

Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita - None in 2019 but 3 here on consecutive nights from 18th to 20th October 2020 (they appeared to all be different individuals, certainly the first two were).  This species is surprisingly scarce here - before 2020 I'd only caught 4 in 6 years.  I used to get more when I lived in Bawdeswell.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 8th September 2020.

Brindled Green, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Deep-brown Dart Aporophyla lutulenta - None.  I've never seen this species and records in mid Norfolk are few and far between.  Not out of the question that I could find one round here though.


Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra - Totals of 17 in the garden between 25th September and 1st November 2019, my worst year since 2014, and 28 between 15th September and 22nd October 2020 (during which period I was away for a week).  I've averaged 32-33 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and 32 in Cornwall.

Black Rustic, North Elmham, 25th September 2019

Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea - None in 2019; 42 at Tresidder in Cornwall between 3rd and 9th October 2020.  I've never seen this species in Norfolk and as it's almost only found at the coast and in the Norwich area I don't particularly expect to find one locally.  But there have been a couple of records not all that far away (e.g. Stibbard) so maybe there are a few knocking around this part of Norfolk too...

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 3rd October 2020

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020

Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta - None.  Some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one here in North Elmham, in 2016, and just a small number elsewhere.


Dark Brocade Mniotype adusta - This must be one of the most widespread moths in Norfolk to have avoided me - there's even been a record in my road.  But until 2019 I'd never seen one, and I've still not found one in Norfolk.  It's perhaps a bit commoner on Mull where I caught 3 at Ceann Chnocain on 13th June 2019.

Dark Brocades, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

More Poplar Cosmets and an early Butterbur

One of the new moths I saw in the Waveney Valley on 10th July was Poplar Cosmet Batrachedra praeangusta.  I didn't expect to get my next record of this species quite so quickly, but in my garden trap the following night, 11th July, there were not only one but two Poplar Cosmets Batrachedra praeangusta!

Poplar Cosmets Batrachedra praeangusta, North Elmham, 11th July

There were a number of other new moths for the garden year-list that night, mostly micros: Small Red Slender Caloptilia rufipennella (only my second here although I've seen a few elsewhere), Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella (just about annual here with single records in 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Campion.

Small Red Slender Caloptilia rufipennella, North Elmham, 11th July

Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Smoky Marble Lobesia abscisana, North Elmham, 11th July

Broad-barred Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella, North Elmham, 11th July

Campion, North Elmham, 11th July

Other moths that night were 2 Fulvous Clothes Moths Tinea semifulvella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, White-headed Ermine Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 4 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 5 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 2 Bright Bells Eucosma hohenwartiana, 4 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 48 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 62 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 20 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Ghost Moth, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, 14 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 4 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Barred Straw, Scallop Shell, Dark Umber, Bordered Pug, V-Pug, Green Pug, 7 Double-striped Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 5 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, 7 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, 2 Common Waves, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, 11 Rosy Footmen, 25 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 51 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Flame, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 3 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Marbled Beauty, 2 Dun-bars, 4 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics (and 2 further Common Rustic aggs.), 44 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Dun-bar, North Elmham, 11th July

Other insects included the mayfly Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum, a Common Earwig, the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea,the caddisflies 2 Hydropsyche siltalai and Leptocerus tineiformis, and the beetles Nicrophorus investigator, Black Sexton Beetle and Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva.

What may well have been a Pale Birch Pigmy Stigmella confusella would have been a new moth and the highlight of the garden moth trap on 12th July, except that I am currently unable to confirm the ID.  I do not have any reference material to compare the genitalia to (there are no pictures of the species' female genitalia on the Dissection Group website) but there is comparative reference material for most of the other feasible similar-looking Stigmella, and their genitalia doesn't match my moth's bits.  However, these are tricky and I don't think it would be safe to call this one just at the moment.

probable Pale Birch Pigmy Stigmella confusella (female), North Elmham, 12th July

Quite a few of the relatively small number of county records of Butterbur are undated, but of those that are dated the earliest is 20th July.  So a Butterbur here on 12th July was quite a surprise.  I had 3 Butterburs in the garden trap in 2016, the only ones I've ever seen before, and was to go on and see 3 again in 2018.

Butterbur, North Elmham, 12th July

There were a few other new moths for the year: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella, Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, Nutmeg and 2 Slender Brindles, .  The finitimella was only my third, following singles here in each of the previous two years.  The chearophyllella was only my fourth here too, though I've had more of them elsewhere.

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 12th July

Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 12th July

Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella, North Elmham, 12th July

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, North Elmham, 12th July

Slender Brindle, North Elmham, 12th July

The rest of the night's 103 species of moth were 12 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 4 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 10 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 3 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 42 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 137 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 19 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, 2 Buff Arches, Common Emerald, 2 Small Blood-veins, Least Carpet, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Straw, July Highflyer, Scallop Shell, Dark Umber, 2 Small Rivulets, Sandy Carpet, 2 Green Pugs, 8 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, 4 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, 2 Swallow-tailed Moths, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawk-moth, 14 Rosy Footmen, 19 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 59 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Flame, Flame Shoulder, 13 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 4 Smoky Wainscots, Dun-bar, 6 Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 30 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 3 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots.

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 12th July

The only bug in the trap was a new species for me, Trigonotylus caelestialium.  Although Trigonotylus is a distinctive genus there are two very similar species; this one is distinguished by the very distinct red stripe through the 1st antennal segment (diffuse in T ruficornis).

Trigonotylus caelestialium, North Elmham, 12th July

Other insects included the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea, the caddisfly Limnephilus marmoratus, 2 Common Red Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulvas, 4 Lagria hirta and my first garden Hornet of the year.

The next day there was a Large White in the garden and a Common Wasp came to the Red-belted Clearwing lure.

There were far fewer moths that night with just 55 species.  These included two new for the year: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana and Rosy Rustic.

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 13th July

The others were 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (and another Cnephasia sp. that escaped), 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 8 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 54 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Buff Arches, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, July Highflyer, V-Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 2 Early Thorns, Purple Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, Engrailed, 2 Common White Waves, Poplar Hawk-moth, 5 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 34 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, 2 Slender Brindles, 2 Common Rustics, 25 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot and Snout.

Not many non-moths of note - the only caddisfly was Hydropsyche pellucidula and the only beetle was Lagria hirta.