Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 1: Waves (Idaea to Timandra)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE)


Purple-bordered Gold Idaea muricata - None.  I hadn't really thought of this as being a likely candidate to turn up locally but I see there's been a recent record from just down the road at Hoe/Beetley so maybe I do have a chance.


Least Carpet Idaea rusticata - This species continues to increase and I recorded my best years yet at home with 41 between 4th July and 5th August 2019 and more than double that in 2020 with 94 between 26th June and 14th August.  These included 10 on 31st July and 12 on 5th August.  Elsewhere one next door, 4 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood, one at Hellesdon and one at Weybourne.

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 7th July 2019

Least Carpet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Least Carpet, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa - Two fantastic years for this species with totals of at least 158 in my garden between 19th June and 29th July 2019 (not counted on a couple of nights) and 170 between 6th June and 2nd August 2020 (including 18 on 22nd June).  I had been averaging 43 a year previously.  Elsewhere small numbers recorded at the meadows (6 dates), Hellesdon, Weybourne and Brancaster.

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham, 15th June 2020

Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata - A couple of good years for this species too though quite not my best.  I caught a total of 22 between 1st July and 4th October 2019 and 23 bewteen 17th June and 22nd September 2020 (I average 18 a year).  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 4 dates.

Small Dusty Wave, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

Small Dusty Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

Satin Wave Idaea subsericiata - None. There are no records of this species in my 10k square but a small number in surrounding squares so perhaps not impossible I might get one locally one day.


Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata - Recorded on 70 nights here between 17th June and 11th September 2019.  At least 226 indivdiuals involved but as I didn't count them on 15 nights during their peak flight time the true number would have been much higher.  That being so it was probably a better than average year and the 26 I counted on 23rd July was my highest ever count.  Another good year in 2020 with 303 between 13th June and 10th September.  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows (on 4 dates), Bintree Wood, Hellesdon and Brancaster.

Single-dotted Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata - A total of 67 here between 1st June and 14th July 2019.  Numbers had been relatively stable here from one year to the next but this was my highest total to date, if only by a small margin.  By contrast 2020 was my poorest year so far here with just 30 between 21st May and 7th July.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and one at Weybourne. 

Treble Brown Spot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th June 2020

Treble Brown Spot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 10th July 2020

Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata - At least 106 in the garden between 27th June and 4th August (not counted on 3 nights).  I average around 140 a year here.  Also one on 21st October, my 3rd and latest in the late September/October period, presumably representing a partial second generation.    2020 was my worst year so far here with 81 between 17th June and 12th September.  Elsewhere 7 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood and one at Hellesdon.

Small Fan-footed Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Small Fan-footed Wave, North Elmham, 21st October 2019

Small Fan-footed Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Small Scallop Idaea emarginata - A total of 7 caught here between 13th and 27th July 2019, one less than my best year here (2018).  Just 3 in 2020 between 6th July and 8th August; also one at Brancaster on 2nd July.

Small Scallop, North Elmham, 7th July 2020

Riband Wave Idaea aversata - Recorded on 61 nights between 16th June and 5th October.  I didn't count for 17 of those nights but on the other nights a total of 274 recorded.  I'd average 380 a year over the previous 4 years so even allowing for the nights with no counts it was probably a bit below average.  251 between 11th June and 22nd September 2020 made for just about my worst year so far.  Elsewhere recorded next door on 3 nights, at the meadows on 10 occasions, at Bintree Wood, Hellesdon, Weybourne and Row Heath (West Runton).

Riband Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Riband Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Plain Wave Idaea straminata - None.  I've never recorded this species locally but another moth-trapper in my road has recorded it and it looks like there have been a few less than a mile away.


Tawny Wave Scopula rubiginata - None.  I've only found this species in the Brecks and in NW Norfolk but there is a good scattering of records elsewhere in Norfolk so there must be a small chance of finding locally.


Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata - None.  I've never caught this species anywhere in the UK but there are a handful of recent records including some in central Norfolk so I reckon it's only a matter of time...


Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria - Totals of 15 trapped in my garden between 24th June and 3rd September 2019 and 19 between 11th June and 7th September 2020.  I don't seem to get much variation in numbers (15-20 in each of the 6 years here) but I used to catch significantly more when I lived in Bawdeswell.  Elsewhere 7 at the meadows, 2 at Bintree Wood and one at Weybourne.

Small Blood-vein, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Small Blood-vein, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th June 2020

Lesser Cream Wave Scopula immutata - One in the garden trap on 23rd July was my only record here in 2019 despite averaging 6-7 a year here over the previous 4 years.  A bit better in 2020 with 5 between 26th June and 21st July.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows on 7th July 2019 and 2 on 18th July 2020.

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Smoky Wave Scopula ternata - A total of 5 at 3 different sites on Mull on 13th June 2019, by torchlight and LEDs.  This was a new moth for me, a northern/western species that is not found in Norfolk.

Smoky Wave, Pennyghael (Mull), 13th June 2019

Cream Wave Scopula floslactata - Singles caught here on 1st, 2nd and 3rd June 2019 and 23rd May 2020.  I caught 6 here in 2018 but only one in total in the previous 3 years.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 31st May 2019 and one at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

Cream Wave, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st May 2019

Cream Wave, North Elmham, 1st June 2019

Rosy Wave Scopula emutaria - 3 caught at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020.  I've only ever seen this species along the western half of the north Norfolk coast where it seems to be reasonably common.  It also occurs on the east coast but it's rare inland so fairly unlikely to turn up here.

Rosy Wave, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Blood-vein Timandra comae - A total of 22 trapped in the garden between 25th May and 7th October 2019.  This is half my average year-total and my worst year here to date.  2020 was another poor year for these with 24 bewteen 18th May and 24th September.  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows and one at Hellesdon.

Blood-vein, North Elmham, 29th May 2019

Blood-vein, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Blood-vein, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Next page: more Geometridae

Red-tipped Clearwings and another Corn Moth

After my success with Currant Clearwing in the garden I put a lure out for Red-tipped Clearwing on Thursday 15th June.  When I checked the trap later on I was delighted to find no less than 5 Red-tipped Clearwings in it!  Awesome!

Red-tipped Clearwings, North Elmham, 15th June

I found Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella and the carpet beetle Anthrenus fuscus in the house that day before another moderately good haul in the moth trap.  Fewer species than the previous night and nothing quite as exciting but 10 species were new for the year: Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Small Emerald, Dwarf Cream Wave, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Barred Yellow, Short-cloaked Moth and 2 Double Square-spots.

Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, North Elmham, 15th June

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, North Elmham, 15th June

Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, North Elmham, 15th June

Small Emerald, North Elmham, 15th June

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham, 15th June

Large Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 15th June

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 15th June

Short-cloaked Moth, North Elmham, 15th June

Double Square-spot, North Elmham, 15th June

Other moths trapped were Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 7 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 8 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Emerald, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, Riband Wave, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Currant Pug, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawk-moth, 17 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 3 Flames, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 3 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 7 Brown Rustics, 4 Dark Arches, 3 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, Uncertain, 4 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Next day I visited Ryburgh where moths included 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and Yellow Shell.  Dragonflies included Banded Demoiselle, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chasers and Black-tailed Skimmers.

Broad-bodied Chaser, Ryburgh, 16th June

Back at home I found Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana and Early Bumblebee in the garden.

Early Bumbleee, North Elmham, 16th June

Inside the house I discovered a moth which at first I thought seemed to be a good candidate for Pale Corn Clothes Moth Nemapogon variatella which would have been a lifer and the fourth for Norfolk.  Sadly closer inspection revealed that it wasn't quite so exciting, being a species I'd found inside the house last year, Corn Moth Nemapogon granella.  Still a good record - it's not been reported anywhere else in the county since 2013.

Corn Moth Nemapogon granella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

Catching up from 2-3 weeks ago

I've a lot of catching up to do... too many moths and not enough time to process them all!

Anyway, going back now to Sunday 21st June.  Just 2 new for the year: Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana and Common Carpet.

Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, North Elmham, 21st June

Other stuff that night were Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Ghost Moth, Riband Wave, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Privet Hawkmoth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, 2 Orange Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, White Ermine, 8 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 5 Heart and Darts, 3 Ingrailed Clays, Small Square-spot, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 2 Marbled Minors (gen det), Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, 2 Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Ghost Moth, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Swallow Prominent, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 21st June

Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, North Elmham, 21st June

Next day I found a Pale Tussock at work, while home produced a relatively meagre catch of 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, Ghost Moth, 2 Common Swifts, Silver-ground Carpet, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Common Footman, 5 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Treble Lines and Burnished Brass.  Also this beetle; I think it's Malthinus flaveolus but there are similar species.

probable Malthinus flaveolus, North Elmham, 22nd June

Poor weather ensured a very poor catch on Tuesday night: Barred Marble Celypha striana, Treble Brown Spot, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Large Yellow Underwing and Ingrailed Clay.

Things improved on Wednesday night, the best of 63 species being a Four-dotted Footman.

Four-dotted Footman, North Elmham, 24th June

Also new for the year were Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, Clay and 2 Beautiful Hook-tips.

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham, 24th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 24th June

Clay, North Elmham, 24th June

Also that night were Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella (gen det), Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (gen det), 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (gen det), 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Plum Tortrices Hedya pruniana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 4 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, 6 Common Pugs, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 3 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock, 5 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 8 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 3 Heart and Clubs, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, 3 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Small Square-spots, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, 3 Uncertains, 9 Straw Dots and Snout. 

 Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 24th June

Ligjt Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella, North Elmham, 24th June

Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 24th June

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 24th June