Cherry Bark Moth in all its colourful shining glory

Another Ginger Button Acleris aspersana was probably the highlight on 3rd August.

Ginger Button Acleris aspersana, North Elmham, 3rd August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 23 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros consisted of Pebble Hook-tip, Small Fan-footed Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, Shaded Broad-bar, Magpie Moth, Early Thorn, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 5 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 11 Common Footmen, Ruby Tiger, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, Knot Grass, Coronet, 2 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 7 Common Rustics, Ear Moth, 7 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Spectacles, 6 Straw Dots and Fan-foot.

Coronet, North Elmham, 3rd August

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 3rd August

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd August

Other insects included the Green Lacewing Dichochrysa flavifrons and another new leafhopper for me, Balclutha punctata.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 3rd August

The next night was a bit better with my second and third ever Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi.

Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi, North Elmham, 4th August

Another good duo were 2 Cherry Bark Moths Enarmonia formosana.  I only saw this species for the first (and second) time last year and one of the two this time was a fresh example looking stunning in all its colourful shining glory.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana, North Elmham, 4th August

This Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana was a form (f. caeruleaoatrana) that I've rarely seen before.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana (f. caeruleaoatrana), North Elmham, 4th August

Other micros included Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 25 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis and 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis.

The only macro new for the year was somewhat less exciting than the micros - a Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 4th August

The other macros were Small Fan-footed Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Small Rivulets, Wormwood Pug, 3 Magpie Moths, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, 3 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, Black Arches, 2 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, 5 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, 3 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, Straw Underwing, 3 Dun-bars, 5 Dark Arches, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, Flounced Rustic, Ear Moth, 5 Uncertains, Nut-tree Tussock, 12 Straw Dots and 2 Fan-foots.

Knot Grass, Cherry Bark and Chocolate

The highlight on 14th August was my second ever Knot Grass, exactly one year after my first (also here).

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 14th August

Also new for the year were Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana and Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana.

 Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, North Elmham, 14th August

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, North Elmham, 14th August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 41 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, 4 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 18 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella and Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis.

The other macros were Orange Swift, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, Small Blood-vein, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 22 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Maple Pug, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 11 Willow Beauties, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Ruby Tiger, 10 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 5 Flame Shoulders, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 15 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spotted Clays, Six-striped Rustic, Lychnis, Antler Moth, White-point, 2 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 3 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, 3 Uncertains, Dark Spectacle and 2 Straw Dots.


Next day I was birding at Burnham Overy and scored some lepidoptera while I was at it... Six species of butterfly included Grayling, 2 Wall Browns and Painted Lady, while moths included at least 15 Spindle Ermines Yponomeuta cagnagella and a Yellow Shell.

Among the moths at home on 15th only one was new for the year, and that a very common species: Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 15th August

But there were some good moths too.  My first ever Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana was just a few weeks ago and tonight got me my second.  Like the first it wasn't the freshest of individuals so I still look forward to a proper fresh one, stunning as they look to be from the photos.  This one was worn enough that I decided it was safest to dissect it just to make sure I'd got it right.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 15th August

A Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis was pretty late - they normally fly between May and mid July, peaking in June.  There are a handful of later records and as this was quite worn I assume it was just a late flying individual rather than a second generation.

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 15th August

The rest were Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 11 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 31 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, 2 Chinese Characters, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Tawny Speckled Pug, Scalloped Oak, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Pebble Prominents, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Dingy Footman, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Flame Shoulder, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 6 Six-striped Rustics, Antler Moth, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, 3 Flounced Rustics, Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 15th August

Next evening (16th) was much quieter: just Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 8 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, Square-spot Rustic and 6 Flounced Rustics.

Chocolate-tip, North Elmham, 16th August

First century at home including five lifers

The moth trap was heaving on the morning after the night of 1st July.  Indeed there was plenty to look at all around the outside before I even started delving into the trap itself - 62 moths of 38 species before I opened the trap up!  Once I had gone through the trap that tally increased to 439 moths of 105 species (59 macros).

There were lots of goodies among them, macro and micro, but it was among the micros that all five of my lifers lay - an exceptionally high number of new moths for a trapping at home night.  Among the five were two very attractive tortrices, neither hugely rare.  The Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana was not the freshest individual and perhaps not as bright as they can be, but not too shabby either.  The Teasel Marble Endothenia gentianaeana is the commoner congener of the Downland Marble Endothenia oblongana I recorded back in May and the larger size of this gentianaeana was very apparent.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana, North Elmham, 1st July

Teasel Marble Endothenia gentianaeana, North Elmham, 1st July

Even more striking was this Dotted Ermel Ethmia dodecea - and a good record too.  Nearly all of the county's records are from the west of the county, along a line running between Holme and the Brecks.  There are just two dots on the map east of that line (both just in VC27).

Dotted Ermel Ethmia dodecea, North Elmham, 1st July

The rarest, or at least the most poorly-recorded, moth was Southern Case-bearer Coleophora badiipennella.  Jon had two records last year but prior to that there were just three county records, two of which were back in 1874.  It's one that needs the chop to confirm and males are difficult even then (fortunately this was a female) so it's undoubtedly under-recorded.  It's another Elm-feeder like the last decent moth I had (this Carpatolechia fugitivella).  Must work out where the nearest Elms are - I still need White-letter Hairstreak and they might be nearby!

Southern Case-bearer Coleophora badiipennella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Much less unusual but still new for me were 2 Garden Cosmets Mompha subbistrigella.

 Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 1st July

A couple of good migrants were among the macros: Pearly Underwing and Red-necked Footman.  At least the Footman may have been a migrant though there is a breeding population in Norfolk nowadays so we can't be sure.  Large numbers were being recorded at the coast around this time though, so I expect mine was a migrant.

Red-necked Footman, North Elmham, 1st July

Pearly Underwing, North Elmham, 1st July

Macros that were new for the year included Phoenix, 2 Freyer's Pugs and Lilac Beauty, while other notable macros were Maiden's Blush, Small Seraphim, Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Four-dotted Footman (my third this year!) and Light Brocade.

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 1st July

Phoenix, North Elmham, 1st July

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 1st July

Small Seraphim, North Elmham, 1st July

Small Elephant Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 1st July

Freyer's Pug, North Elmham, 1st July

Among the micros were 4 Monopis which I thought at first were my first Monopis obviella, a relatively frequently recorded moth that I'm yet to come across. Upon closer inspection though they proved to be the much rarer Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, a species I recorded here last autumn.

Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, North Elmham, 1st July

Lots of other micros were new for the year: Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, 4 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 4 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella (gen det), 2 Grey Rush Case-bearers Coleophora glaucicolella (gen det), 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Cock's-head Bell Zeiraphera isertana and Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana.

 Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham, 1st July

Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, North Elmham, 1st July

Traingle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, North Elmham, 1st July

Cock's-head Bell Zeiraphera isertana, North Elmham, 1st July

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, North Elmham, 1st July

Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, North Elmham, 1st July

Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, North Elmham, 1st July

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 1st July

Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, North Elmham, 1st July

Other micros were 3 Brown House-moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 5 Dark Groundlings Bryotropha affinis, 7 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 3 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis cerasana, 11 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 7 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 6 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 45 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, 9 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 25 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Brown China-marks Elophila nymphaeata, 4 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 6 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 1st July

Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, North Elmham, 1st July

Finally the remainder of the macros were 6 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 13 Treble Brown Spots, 15 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, 5 Barred Straws, Green Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Mottled Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 5 Green Pugs, Clouded Border, 9 Brimstone Moths, 7 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Mottled Beauties, 3 Common White Waves, 2 Common Waves, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, 4 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 5 Heart and Clubs, 7 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Ingrailed Clays, 13 Double Square-spots, Clay, Common Wainscot, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 3 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors (gen det), 12 Middle-barred Minors, 2 Treble Lines, 21 Uncertains, 11 Mottled Rustics, 3 Marbled White Spots, 5 Burnished Brass, 8 Beautiful Hook-tips, 14 Straw Dots, 9 Snouts, 3 Fan-foots and 2 Small Fan-foots.

Tanwy Marbled Minor (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Non-lepidopteran interest was there too, though I ddn't have time to look at everything too closely.  Two bugs I looked at, one identified (Stenotus binotatus) and one not yet identified and two beetles, one identified (Nicrophorus investigator) and one not yet identified.

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham, 1st July

unidentified bug, North Elmham, 1st July

Nicrophorus investigator, North Elmham, 1st July

unidentified beetle, North Elmham, 1st July

Finally this toad has been kicking around the trap recently - finally got a pic of him (or her) mid-leap.

Common Toad, North Elmham, 1st July