Review of 2019 and 2020 - Leafhoppers part 4: subfamily Deltocephalinae II

LEAFHOPPERS (CICADELLIDAE) continued


SUBFAMILY DELTOCEPHALINAE (continued)


Allygus mixtus - One on Oak at the meadows on 3rd August and one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.  Added to my garden list in 2020 when I found one indoors on 12th August and one in the moth trap on 18th August.

Allygus mixtus, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Allygus mixtus, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Allygus mixtus, North Elmham, 19th August 2020

Euscelis incisus - Singles found at the meadows on 4 dates between 24th March and 6th May 2019 then another 2 on 22nd August.  A probable nymph there on 25th March 2020 and an adult on 8th May.

Euscelis incisus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th March 2019

probable Euscelis incisus nymph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th March 2020

Euscelis incisus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th May 2020

Euscelis lineatus - A leafhopper found at the meadows on 20th July 2020 looked like this species but I lost it after taking photos.  I'd have preferred to have been able to examine it properly and am not sure if the ID is safe based on the photos alone so unless/until someone tells me otherwise I won't be formally recording it.  New to me if it is one.

probable Euscelis lineatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th July 2020

Mocydiopsis attenuata - One came to light at the meadows on 22nd April 2019.

Mocydiopsis attenuata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Thamnotettix dilutor - Found at the meadows on 13th July 2019 and 19th August 2020.  New for my garden in 2019 when one in my moth trap on 31st July.

Thamnotettix dilutior, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2019

Thamnotettix dilutior, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August 2020

Lamprotettix nitidulus - Totals of 6 in my garden moth trap between 31st July and 14th October 2019 and 10 between 24th July and 29th October 2020 (including 3 on 31st July).

Lamprotettix nitidulus, North Elmham, 31st July 2019

Lamprotettix nitidulus, North Elmham, 23rd September 2019 (with a close-up of its 'Honey Monster' scutellum)

Cicadula frontalis - One in my garden moth trap on 7th August 2020 was my second record following one in 2018.

Cicadula frontalis, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

Cicadula persimilis/quadrinotata - None.  A female of one or other of these species was found at the meadows in 2018.


Opsius stactogalus - None.  I'm not sure where my nearest Tamarisk is but I caught one of these in my garden in 2018.


Grypotes puncticollis - None.  Another one I caught here in 2018.


Macrosteles sexnotatus - Confirmed males in the garden moth trap on 30th and 31st July 2019 and another at the meadows on 3rd September.  Also a likely female at the meadows on 7th July but apparently identification is not safe without reference to the male genitalia/sternal apodemes.  Three in the garden moth trap between 30th July and 11th August 2020 were all unconfirmed females as was one at the meadows (on Imperforate St John's Wort in case that makes a difference) on 30th August.  A confirmed male to light at Whitwell Street on 3rd September.

male Macrosteles sexnotatus, North Elmham, 30th July 2019

male Macrosteles sexnotatus, Whitwell Street, 3rd September 2020

Balclutha punctata - Totals of 5 in the garden moth trap between 24th July and 30th August 2019 and 3 between 5th and 21st August 2020.  Also 2 to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 6th August 2019

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 30th August 2019

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 5th August 2020

Next page: more leafoppers

Summer Fruit Tortrix

A Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella was new for the year on 14th August.

Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 14th August

Other moths were Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, 2 Carrion Moths Monopis weaverella, New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella, Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 53 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 4 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Maiden's Blush, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Common Carpets, Grey Pine Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Currant Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, 5 Double-striped Pugs, 4 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 4 Dusky Thorns, Light Emerald, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Common Wainscot, 3 Copper Underwings, Straw Underwing, 15 Flounced Rustics and 6 Straw Dots.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 14th August

The only mayfly was a Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum and the brown lacewings were 2 Hemerobius lutescens and Micromus variegatus.  Among the caddisflies Lype phaeopa was new for the year; the others were Crunoecia irrorata, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Molanna angustata.

Lype phaeopa (female), North Elmham, 14th August

A Birch Shieldbug was the only bug but beetles included one new for the house - the weevil Curculio venosus - and one new for the year - the water beetle Ilybius ater.  Other beetles were Amara apricaria and 10 Bradycellus verbasci.

Curculio venosus, North Elmham, 14th August

Ilybius ater, North Elmham, 14th August

The following night was good with a totally new moth for me in the garden trap - a Summer Fruit Tortrix Adoxophyes orana.  Up to this decade there were just 5 records of this species in Norfolk, 3 of which were in 1953.  Things picked up a bit recently with a further 10 records prior to 2018 when there was another the same night as mine and another two nights later.

Summer Fruit Tortrix Adoxophyes orana, North Elmham, 15th August

Another new moth for the year was Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella - just my fourth record of this species.  A Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella was my third this year but numerically the best moth of the night - although my sixth it is only Norfolk's 14th record.  I suspect macro fans will be more impressed by the Butterbur though.

Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella, North Elmham, 15th August

Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th August

Butterbur, North Elmham, 15th August

Other moths that night were Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Red Birch Midget Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Small Birch Bell Epinotia ramella, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, 61 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Single-dotted Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Currant Pug, 6 Double-striped Pugs, Scorched Carpet, Latticed Heath, 3 Brimstone Moths, Dusky Thorn, 2 Willow Beauties, Light Emerald, Swallow Prominent, 7 Flame Shoulders, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Six-striped Rustics, Common Wainscot, Copper Underwing, Straw Underwing, Angle Shades, Common Rustic, 12 Flounced Rustics, 4 Vine's Rustics, 6 Straw Dots and Snout.

Mayflies were 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and 2 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. There was a great selection of lacewings: 2 Chrysopa commata, 2 Chrysoperla carnea (plus a presumed female), Dichochrysa flavifrons, 2 Dichochrysa prasina, Hemerobius humulinus, Hemerobius lutescens and 6 Micromus variegatus. Also a waxfly that was almost certainly Conwentzia psociformis - currently female Conwentzia cannot be positively identified but all the males I've recorded have been psociformis. Moreover it is thought that the number of segments in the antennae may prove a reliable means of separating females, in which case the 37 segments would confirm this was psociformis. Caddisflies were 4 Hydropsyche siltalai and Leptocerus tineiformis.  There were 3 Birch Shieldbugs including a pair copulating, the leafhopper Lamprotettix nitidulus and another Curculio venosus,

Lamprotettix nitidulus, North Elmham, 15th August

Curculio venosus, North Elmham, 15th August

New Knot-horn

The night of Wednesday 19th July produced another century - 100 species of moth.  The highlight was a Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella.  This was the first I'd ever trapped, so a very welcome find.  Actually it was already on my list, but shouldn't have been - I'd seen one in a pot once in circumstance where I wouldn't normally 'tick' it.  I often worry that I might be overlooking this species among the very common and somewhat similar Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, and dissect a few of those each year to double-check.  The most often-cited difference given in various online references is size but there is a lot of overlap (suavella is given as 22-24mm while advenella is given as 18-24mm, so you presumably couldn't positively identify suavella on size alone).  There are other differences in the wing pattern given in some references (e.g. the micros field guide) but these can be hard to assess on worn specimens.  This one wasn't too worn and I found it very distinctive - much more so than I expected.  I dissected it just to dot the i's and cross the t's but it was pretty obvious it was going to be suavella as soon as I clapped eyes on it.

Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th July

This White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella was also new for the house and only my second ever (I added it to my previous house list shortly before moving out in 2014).  A smart and distinctive gelechiid.

White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella, North Elmham, 19th July

A Juniper Argent Argyresthia dilectella was a good record - I'd seen my first here last year but there has only been one other Norfolk record in the last 9 years.

Juniper Argent Argyresthia dilectella, North Elmham, 19th July

Although I'd seen them previously at both this house and the last there have only ever been 13 county records of Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella, so nice to get another one.

Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th July

I didn't immediately recognise this distinctive-looking Phyllonorycter but eventually worked out that it was Common Alder Midget Phyllonorycter rajella.  The brown (not orange) ground colour is apparently quite frequent with this species, though not shared by all examples.  It was another new species for the year.

Common Alder Midget Phyllonorycter rajella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th July

House Groundling Bryotropha domestica and Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana were also new for the year.  Other micros included Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 3 Horse Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, 26 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 3 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 6 Small Dingy Tubics Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 3 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 3 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 White-triangle Buttons Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 31 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 25 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, North Elmham, 19th July

There was nothing new for the year among the macros but a good variety nevertheless including Small Scallop, Purple Thorn and Cream-bordered Green Pea.  The others, including 3 species of Hawk-moth and 4 species of Prominent, were 2 Chinese Characters, Large Emerald, 2 Blood-veins, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, 14 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 3 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 3 Willow Beauties, Privet Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, 3 Elephant Hawk-moths, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, 2 Pale Prominents, 3 Yellow-tails, Black Arches, 7 Rosy Footmen, 18 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 12 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dun-bars, 3 Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, 2 Dusky Sallows, Ear Moth, 7 Uncertains, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Straw Dot and Snout.

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th July

There was a good haul of other insects too.  A Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum was the only Mayfly but lacewings consisted of 6 Cunctochrysa albolineata, 4 Dichochrysa flavifrons and a Micromus variegatus.  Caddisflies included 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula and a Leptocerus tineiformis.

Bugs were better - as well as 3 Birch Shieldbugs, Forest Bug and the leafhopper Iassus lanio there were 3 new species for the year: the splendid Campyloneura virgula, a Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis and the leafhopper with a sad face pattern on its scutellum, Lamprotettix nitidulus.

Campyloneura virgula, North Elmham, 19th July

Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis, North Elmham, 19th July

Lamprotettix nitidulus, North Elmham, 19th July

There were as many beetles with Ilybius fuliginosus, 6 Bradycellus verbascis, Aphodius rufipes, Rhagonycha fulva, Lagria hirta and another which I've spent too long attempting to key out and have put to one side to look at again after I've caught up with everything else.

Bradycellus verbascis, North Elmham, 19th July

The following night was dead by comparison - just 43 moths of 27 species!  They were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Large Emerald, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, 4 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, Ruby Tiger, Nutmeg, Cloaked Minor, 2 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic and 3 Nut-tree Tussocks.

It was equally poor for other insects with just one caddisfly (Limnephilus marmoratus) and one beetle (Brown Chafer) recorded.   Fortunately this was just a temporary blip and things warmed up again the next day - more on that later...

Gold Spot, Butterbur and a monopoly of Bryotropha basaltinella

A new moth for the garden on 23rd August was this fantastic Gold Spot.  They're not supposed to be very unusual but this was only the second Gold Spot I've seen anywhere.

Gold Spot, North Elmham, 23rd August

Another good macro, though much less exciting to look at, was this Butterbur - my second of the autumn.

Butterbur, North Elmham, 23rd August

Much rarer than either of these, at least as far as number of records are concerned, were a pair of micros.  I have the monopoly on Thatch Groundlings Bryotropha basaltinella in Norfolk.  I found the first in my garden trap shortly after moving in to North Elmham in 2014.  The second followed last year and now here are two more.

Thatch Groundlings Bryotropha basaltinella (female above and male below, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd August

An Ashy Button Acleris sparsana was a surprise.  I normally see these in October, with all previous records falling between mid September and mid November, so wasn't expecting to add one to the year list on 23rd August!

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham, 23rd August

Others new for the year were Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, Small Alder Midget Phyllonorycter stettinensis and Wax Moth Galleria mellonella.

Small Alder Midget Phyllonorycter stettinensis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd August

Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, North Elmham, 23rd August

Other decent micros included an impressive count of 7 Oak Bent-wings Bucculatrix ulmella, Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella and Sallow Marble Apotomis capreana.

Oak Bent-wing Bucculatrix ulmella, North Elmham, 23rd August

Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella, North Elmham, 23rd August

Sallow Marble Apotomis capreana, North Elmham, 23rd August

A good selection of other micros again with Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 3 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 12 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Rusty-dot Pearls Udea ferrugalis, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, 2 Beautiful Plumes Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae (female, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd August

Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd August

Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 23rd August

Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, North Elmham, 23rd August

Among the macros there was another good count of 60 Straw Dots and the first autumn-generation Vine's Rustic.  Others were 3 Orange Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, Large Emerald, 2 Blood-veins, Small Dusty Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 6 Common Carpets, Yellow Shell, Purple Bar, 2 Green Carpets, Small Rivulet, Maple Pug, Currant Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Treble-bar, Yellow-barred Brindle, 19 Brimstone Moths, 4 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 3 Dusky Thorns, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Dingy Footman, Common Footman, 16 Flame Shoulders, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spotted Clays, 9 Square-spot Rustics, Straw Underwing, Common Rustic, Burnished Brass and Snout.

Vine's Rustic, North Elmham, 23rd August

Other insects included the Green Lacewing Dichochrysa flavifrons and the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens (new for the house, though several more found later in the autumn).  Caddisflies included another Hydroptila sparsa.

Hemerobius lutescens, North Elmham, 23rd August

Bugs included the leafhopper Lamprotettix nitidulus, new for the house.  Check out the sad face on its scutellum...

Lamprotettix nitidulus, North Elmham, 23rd August

Also Eared Leafhopper Ledra aurita and 2 Forest Bugs (Red-legged Shieldbugs).