Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Erebids (Erebidae) part 2: Ermines, Tigers and Footmen

EREBIDS (EREBIDAE) (continued)


Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea - Totals of 105 caught in the garden between 1st June and 2nd August 2019 and 72 between 20th May and 28th July 2020, by far my worst years here.  I caught 247 here in my previous worst year.  Elsewhere caught next door (7th August), at the meadows (3 dates), Bintree Wood (2), Hellesdon (5), Hllls and Holes, Weybourne (2) and on Mull (2).  Also a caterpillar at the meadows on 4th October 2019.

Buff Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Buff Ermine caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Buff Ermine, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Buff Ermine, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda - Totals of 28 caught in the garden between 18th May and 23rd June 2019 and 34 between 16th May and 16th June 2020.  As with the previous species these were my worst totals since moving here - my average annual tally is 60.  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood, 6 at Hills and Holes and a total of 37 on Mull.  One of the latter was found at an un-manned honesty shop at Lochbuie, during the day and deep inside a basket of cakes - clearly a moth after my own heart.

White Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

White Ermine, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

White Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

White Ermine, North Elmham, 20th May 2020

Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae - None.  In Norfolk this species is pretty much restricted to the Broads which is where the only one I've ever seen was.  However the other moth-trapper in my road caught one in 1996 and there have been a handful of other more recent records this side of the county, so there must be at least a small chance of me getting one locally.


Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica - Totals of 43 caught in the garden between 1st April and 28th May 2019 and 94 between 12th April and 24th May 2020.  The 2019 total was pretty typical but the 2020 total was a record high (and included a record count of 9 on 3rd May).  It's normally only the males that come to light and I've only caught males here.  I never managed to catch a single one at my last house in Bawdeswell - in fact I've only ever had one male to light anywhere else (I've also seen a couple of females at other sites, both during the day).

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 17th April 2019

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 12th April 2020

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 24th April 2020

Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio - 4 seen, all on Mull in June 2019: one during the day along the path from Carsaig to Rubha Dubh, singles in torchlight at 2 sites and one to an outside light at our accommodation in Carsaig.  In Norfolk this species is largely restricted to the Brecks, the only area I've seen it before.

Clouded Buff, Allt Molach (Mull), 13th June 2019

Clouded Buff, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa - At least 34 caught in the garden between 18th May and 10th August 2019, but not counted on 2 nights so perhaps a few more.  That's pretty much average here but the 8 bewteen 14th July and 4th August 2020 was by far my worst year here.  Also a caterpillar here on 26th February 2020.  Elsewhere one next door, 28 at the meadows (on 8 nights) , 4 at Bintree Wood, one at Whitwell Street and one in Hellesdon.

Ruby Tiger, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September 2019

Ruby Tiger caterpillar, North Elmham, 26th February 2020

Ruby Tiger, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Garden Tiger Arctia caja - One in the garden trap on 20th July 2019.  I've only had this species here twice before (both 2017 when I also caught one next door).  None here in 2020 but one at Brancaster on 2nd July.

Garden Tiger, North Elmham, 20th July 2019

Garden Tiger, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Cinnabar Tyria jacobaea - Totals of 14 caught in the garden moth trap between 22nd May and 2nd July 2019 and 17 between 19th May and 26th June 2020, my worst totals since moving here (average annual total is 42).  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood and 9 at various sites on Mull,  comprising a mixture of day time observations and individuals coming to light.  Also at least 30 caterpillars on Ragwort at the meadows on 5th July 2019 and smaller numbers the following year.  At Titchwell on 21st July 12 adults seen during the day and also some caterpillars.

Cinnabar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Cinnabar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Cinnabar caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019

Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata - At least 172 caught here between 4th July and 7th August 2019 but probably a few more as they weren't counted on 3 nights.  Also an autumn generation example on 30th September.  This is about average here, but 2020 was my worst year so far with just 80 between 25th June and 15th August 2020.  Elsewhere one next door, 8 at the meadows (4 nights), 2 at Bintree Wood and one at Weybourne.

Rosy Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 25th June 2020

Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana - None.  I've never seen this scarce species but there are scattered records around the county including a couple not all that far away from here, so I'm hopeful that I'll get one sometime.


Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex - At least 22 here between 5th July and 4th August 2019, with 2 nights not counted.  That's my best year so far, with an average of 10 a year previously.  In contrast 2020 was my joint worst year with 6 between 8th and 31st July.  Elsewhere one at the meadows and one at Hellesdon in 2019 and 15 at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesemella - One at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020 was my only record in 2019/20.  I caught 8 of these in my garden between 2015 and 2017 but none since.

Four-dotted Footman, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra - None.  I've only ever caught this migrant species once in east Norfolk and in Cornwall.  David Knight has caught one just down the road at Worthing so no reason why one shouldn't appear in my trap one day.


Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis - None.  I caught 21 of these between 2102 and 2016, some in their Breckland stronghold but also at quite a few different sites away from the Brecks (including once here at home, in 2015).  They were often fresh individuals and not coinciding with arrivals of migrants, so it was concluded that they had spread and colonised more of the county than just the Brecks.  Sadly it all seems to have gone a bit quiet since then.  Hopefully it's just a cyclical dip - it is still being recorded away from the Brecks in smaller numbers which suggests it is hanging on, and that being so perhaps we can expect another peak quite sooon.  I certainly hope so - they're smart moths!


Buff Footman Eilema depressa - 6 in the garden between 22nd and 25th July 2019 and just 2 in 2020, on 16th July and 12th August.  These were my worst totals since moving here - I had been averaging over 15 a year.  Elsewhere 5 at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020 and my first at the meadows on 7th August 2020.

Buff Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th Augsut 2020

Dingy Footman Eilema griseola - Recorded in the garden on 33 nights between 7th July and 20th August.  I didn't count them on 9 nights starting during their peak flight period (37 on 24th July) so impossible to estimate how many in total (139 on the nights I did count).  However, having averaged well over 300 a year over the previous 4 years, I'm pretty sure this was a poor year.  2020 certainly was - 179 between 28th June and 19th August was my lowest count other than the incomplete 2019 total.  Elsewhere 28 at the meadows, 55 at Bintree Wood on 24th July, 2 in Hellesdon and one at Row Heath (West Runton).


Common Footman Eilema lurideola - Recorded at home from 5th June 2019 with 722 by 24th July (when counts peaked at 73).  Recorded without counts on another 11 nights until 5th August.  Over the previous 4 years I had averaged 785 a year.  2020 was my best year so far with 989 between 10th June and 8th August.  Caterpillars in the moth trap on 1st March, 30th May and 10th and 26th December 2019 - presumably the eggs had been laid in the trap rather than they had crawled into it).  Elsewhere 22 at the meadows (10 nights), 12 at Bintree Wood, 10 at Hellesdon, 5 at Weybourne and one at Brancaster.  Also a caterpillar at the meadows in January 2020.

Common Footman caterpillar, North Elmham, 10th December 2019

Common Footman caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th January 2020

Scarce Footman Eilema complana - Recorded at home between 8th July and 7th August 2019 including a record count of 25 on 24th July.  After that I recorded it every night up to 7th August but apart from one on the last date I didn't count them on the other 13 nights.  I average 92 a year - with so many nights uncounted during their peak flight period it's impossible to know if 2019 was better or worse than that.  2020 was a good year, though not my best, with 131 between 17th June and 9th August.  Elsewhere 33 at the meadows (on 7 nights including 20 on 18th July 2020), 70 at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020, 2 at Hellesdon, one at Brancaster and one at Weybourne.

Scarce Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

I sometimes come across pale washed-out examples that resemble Hoary Footman.  They're usually just worn but I tend to check them for Hoary just in case and so far they've always proven to be Scarce Footmen as expected.  On these worn examples the hindwings can look paler too, so I'd be wary of confirming a Hoary based on its hindwing colour.  The hindwings might be sufficient on some to confirm they are just Common (and so might a strong contrasting pale edge to the forewing?) but I often check the genitalia to make sure.  Hoary Footman is definitely a species worth looking for in Norfolk - it's spreading and there have been more records in Suffolk recently.  I can't imagine it will be long before we get them in Norfolk though I don't suppose the first ones are likely to turn up round here.

male Scarce Footman, North Elmham, 21st July 2020

Update 5-Apr-21: I originally posted a photo of a caterpillar here, from 23rd March 2019, which I thought might possibly be Scarce Footman.  I couldn't find any better options at the time but felt the orange dots weren't right and the hairs looked like they might be too long.  Finally the has penny dropped - it was in fact a December Moth.


Orange Footman Eilema sorocula - 2019 was a terrible year for this species - just a single record of one here on 1st June.  I've never had fewer than 8 here in a year before and the average is 13-14.  I had 10 in a single night in 2018!  2020 was better, if a little below par, with 10 between 19th May and 17th June.  Also one at Bintree Wood and 3 at Hills and Holes.

Orange Footman, North Elmham, 19th May 2020

Next page: more Erebidae

Derby Fen

I was supposed to be 'in charge' at the Norfolk Moth Survey event at Derby Fen as none of the usual suspects could make it that night (9th June).  I'd not been there before so Dave and I arrived early and had a wander round. We managed to find a good range of moths in the lower parts of the fen including my first ever confirmed Marsh Pug, a Hawthorn Bent-wing Bucculatrix bechsteinella and a variety of the commoner Coleophora species.  We also found Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella to be abundant here, a species I’ve only previously seen in those sorts of numbers in the Brecks.

Marsh Pug, Derby Fen, 9th June

We were then joined by Tony and Garry and set up light traps. What may perhaps have been the best area to set them was too far to lug all the equipment, although Tony did manage to get his smaller trap down as far as a patch of Bog Myrtle. I was hoping we might find a Light Knot Grass there, but no such luck – but between us we did trap a nice variety of species including a few decent ones like Wood Carpet and Sloe Pug (both lifers for me).

Wood Carpet, Derby Fen, 9th June

Sloe Pug (male, gen det), Derby Fen, 9th June

We were surprised to find a Saltmarsh Plume Agdistis bennetii, but it seems like it was a good year for this species turning up inland.

Saltmasrh Plume Agdistis bennetii, Derby Fen, 9th June

Hawk-moths included Pine, Eyed, Poplar, Elephant and Small Elephant Hawk-moths and there were 3 Fox Moths. There were good numbers of July Belles and Sharp-angled Carpets along with 2 Shaded Pugs, 2 Four-dotted Footmen, a Broom Moth, 2 Bird’s Wings and a Dark Spectacle.

Fox Moth, Derby Fen, 9th June

Four-dotted Footman, Derby Fen, 9th June

Broom Moth, Derby Fen, 9th June

Bird's Wing, Derby Fen, 9th June

Other macro moth species we recorded were Ghost Moth, 4 Common Swifts, 2 Pebble Hook-tips, Treble Brown Spot, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, 2 Purple Bars, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, 5 Green Carpets, May Highflyer, Sandy Carpet, 's Pug, Wormwood Pug, 2 Common Pugs, 2 Grey Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 2 Clouded Borders, Brown Silver-line, 5 Scorched Wings, 4 Brimstone Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, Willow Beauty, 3 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Pebble Prominent, 2 Lesser Swallow Prominents, 2 Marbled Browns, 2 Pale Tussocks, 5 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Club, 6 Heart and Darts, 4 Flame Shoulders, Ingrailed Clay, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Shears, 2 Light Brocades, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, 5 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, Grey or Dark Dagger, 6 Brown Rustics, Angle Shades, 3 Dark Arches, 2 Clouded-bordered Brindles, 2 Small Clouded Brindles, Large Nutmeg, 2 Rustic Shoulder-knots, 5 Marbled Minors, 2 Tawny Marbled Minors, 18 Middle-barred Minors, 6 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, Marbled White Spot, 4 Burnished Brasses, 2 Silver Ys, Dark Spectacle, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 12 Straw Dots and Snout.

The rest of the micros were 3 Sorrel Bent-wings Opostega salaciella, Yellow-barred Long-horn Nemophora degeerella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Gorse Case-bearer Coleophora albicosta, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, 2 Black-headed Conches Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 9 Light Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia incertana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Hook-streak Grass-veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 15 Meadow Greys Scoparia pyralella,

Caddisflies included Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus sparsus and there was a Glow-worm.

After all that lot it was a surprisingly quiet night back at home - which made me wonder how good Derby Fen would have been on a better night.  Single-dotted Wave and Snout were the only new moths for the year at home, the rest being Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Pebble Hook-tip, Cream Wave, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Currant Pug, Pale Oak Beauty, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock, 2 Orange Footmen, Common Footman, White Ermine, 4 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame Shoulder, 4 Ingrailed Clays, 3 Common Wainscots, Brown Rustic, Tawny Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 2 Mottled Rustics, 8 Straw Dots; also the caddisfly Limnephilus flavicornis.

Cinereous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 9th June

The following night was dire - just 19 species at what was coming up to the peak time of the year: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Treble Brown Spot, Clouded Border, Buff-tip, 2 White Ermines, 6 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, Middle-barred Minor, Mottled Rustic and Burnished Brass.

There was a better range of moths during the day at the Cathedral Meadows next day, with Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salaciella, Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Cherry-fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 2 Light Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia incertana, 12 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 11 Hook-streak Grass-veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Yellow Shell, 4 Green Carpets and Straw Dot.

Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Cherry-fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Bugs included 2 Leptopterna dolabrata and a female leafhopper would have been a new species for me if I'd managed to identify it to species-level - it was either Cicadula persimilis or Cicadula quadrinotata, but you need a male to get any further than that.

Leptopterna dolobrata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

 Cicadula persimilis/quadrinotata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

I netted a beetle seen flying over the railway and this proved to be Hydrobius fuscipes.  I think this is a very common species as I've found several since but this was the first one I'd identified.  There was also a 24-spot Ladybird and the hoverfly Eupeodes corollae.

Hydrobius fuscipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

Eupeodes corollae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June

I think this spider is Tetragnatha extensa, another I'd not identified before.

Tetragnatha extensa, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th June