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

Cydia ulicetana - garden first

When I got home from Row Heath it wasn't far off time to go through the moth trap at home.  The biggest surprise was a moth that's abundant around gorse but which hadn't made it to my garden before: Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana.

Others new for the year here were Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, Figure of Eighty, Clay Triple-lines, Purple Bar, Common White Wave, Small Square-spot, Middle-barred Minor and Small Fan-foot (plus the Mayfly Green Drake Ephemera danica).

Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 27th May

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, North Elmham, 27th May

Figure of Eighty, North Elmham, 27th May

Clay Triple-lines, North Elmham, 27th May

Purple Bar, North Elmham, 27th May

Small Square-spot, North Elmham, 27th May

A late Tufted Button Acleris cristana was unexpected - and it looked like it had been out too long!

Tufted Button Acleris cristana, North Elmham, 27th May

Other moths were Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Blood-vein, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Common Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 8 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, Brown Silver-line, Peppered Moth, Pale Oak Beauty, 5 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Pale Tussocks, Orange Footman, 5 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Dart, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Light Brocade, 2 Rustic Shoulder-knots, 3 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 5 Treble Lines and 3 Straw Dots.  Also the caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus.

Light Brocade, North Elmham, 27th May

Next day Dave and I headed up to Salthouse Heath to search for Large Red-belted (and Yellow-legged) Clearwings using pheronome lures.  We drew a total blank unfortunately, but saw a few other moths: probable Bridge Roller Ancylis uncella, >200 Grey Gorse Piercers Cydia ulicetana, Small Rivulet and 2 Brown Silver-lines.

At home this Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella was inside the house, new for the year.

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 27th May

Also during the day there was a Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima in the garden.  Next post will cover the night's moth trap contents.

Marbled Coronet

During the afternoon of 8th June I added Common Nettle-tap Anthophilus fabiricana to the garden year list. A good selection of moths in the trap that night inlcuding 47 species.  Best was a Marbled Coronet, a species mainly recorded at the coast in Norfolk, though there are a good spread of odd records elsewhere.  Still very unexpected here.

Marbled Coronet, North Elmham, 8th June

Also new for the house (it's only my second summer) were Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella and Large Nutmeg.

Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, North Elmham, 8th June

Large Nutmeg, North Elmham, 8th June

New for the year at home were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Purple Bar, Common Wainscot, Straw Dot and Snout.

Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 8th June

Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae (female, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Snout, North Elmham, 8th June

Common Wainscot, North Elmham, 8th June

Other moths were 52 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Common Swifts, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 6 Green Carpets, 4 Sandy Carpets, Foxglove Pug, Mottled Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 2 Grey Pugs, Clouded Silver, 4 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Muslin Moth, 6 Cinnabars, 2 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shears, Light Brocade, Lychnis, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Brown Rustic, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 2 Marbled Minors, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, Vine's Rustic and Mottled Rustic.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 8th June

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 8th June

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 8th June

Vine's Rustic, North Elmham, 8th June

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Caddisflies were represented by 4 species from the same genus.  Limnephilus flavicornis was the first I've identified and Limnephilus binotatus was my first this year (and first properly identified with a key).  The others were 3 Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 8th June

Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham, 8th June

This Earwig was really small and I thought it must be something other than the Common Earwig which so far every Earwig I've identified has been.  Turns out, I think, that it's a juvenile Common Earwig.

 apparent juvenile Common Earwig, North Elmham, 8th 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