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

Vestal, Yellow-legged Clearwing and metamorphotic mayflies

I checked my lure trap when I got home from Burnham Overy and there was nothing in it.  I happened to look out ten minutes later and saw something in it... and it proved to be my first Yellow-legged Clearwing.  Lurvely!

Yellow-legged Clearwing, North Elmham, 26th June

That night I trapped a Vestal!  A migrant species that I encountered in Cornwall in 2011 but which I have failed to find in Norfolk since, despite there being a good year for them recently.  It's a moth I really wanted to see here, so great to find one at last.

Vestal, North Elmham, 26th June

Apart from that Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella and Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella were new for the year but it wasn't a big haul by any means.

Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, North Elmham, 26th June

Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, North Elmham, 26th June

Other moths caught were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Ghost Moth, Large Emerald, Least Carpet, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Dwarf Cream Waves, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, 4 Barred Straws, 3 V-Pugs, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 3 Clouded Borders, Scorched Wing, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Common Wave, Buff-tip, 3 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 38 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Double Square-spot, Smoky Wainscot, 8 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip and Snout.

Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, North Elmham, 26th June

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 26th June

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 26th June

The micro-caddisfly Oxyethira flavicornis was new for the year.

Oxyethira flavicornis (male), North Elmham, 26th June

The following night was poor - a Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana was the only moth new for the year.  The others were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Ghost Moth, 9 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Barred Straw, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Mottled Beauty, 2 Engraileds, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Coxcomb Prominent, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, 10 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame, Bright-line Brown-eye, 4 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

The caddisfly Ceraclea dissimilis was new for the year.

Ceraclea dissimilis (male), North Elmham, 27th June

Things were even slower the following night with just 38 moths of 21 species - a staggeringly poor show for the end of June.  Two of the few were new for the year though: Lesser Cream Wave and Silver Y.

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 28th June

Silver Y, North Elmham, 28th June

The others were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Small Fan-footed Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Barred Straw, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Silver, Eyed Hawk-moth, 7 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Uncertains and 2 Snouts.

The 29th wasn't much better with no new moths for the year.  The most interesting moth was a Silver-ground Carpet which was minute.  The forewing length is supposed to be 14-17mm - this one's forewing was just 11mm long!

Silver-ground Carpet, North Elmham, 29th June

The other moths were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Small Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Barred Straw, Common Pug, 5 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 15 Common Footmen, 7 Buff Ermines, 3 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Brown Rustic, 14 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Silver Y and 2 Straw Dots.  There was also a single forewing belonging to a Swallow-tailed Moth which must have been predated by something during the night - maybe a bat?

At Ryburgh on Friday 30th June there was this hoverfly, Baccha elongata.

Baccha elongata, Ryburgh, 30th June

Once I'd realised that the reason it wasn't on rose was it wasn't a Large Rose Sawfly (superficially similar, at a stretch), I twigged that this was in fact a fly.  It looks like Sciara hemerobioides but there are apparently other similar species and I've no idea how to eliminate those.

probable Sciara hemerobioides, Ryburgh, 30th June

Back at home a White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella came into the house.  The mothing got a bit livelier again that night, though still short of what late June can offer in a good year.  Orange Swift, Shaded Broad-bar and Slender Brindle were all new for the year.

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 30th June

Slender Brindle, North Elmham, 30th June

Other moths were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ghost Moth, Drinker, Large Emerald, Small Blood-vein, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 5 Barred Straws, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 5 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 36 Common Footmen, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, 5 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Dot Moths, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Dark Arches, 24 Uncertains, Rustic, 3 Mottled Rustics and 10 Snouts.

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 30th June

There was clearly an emergence of mayflies that night too, with 8 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, of which 6 were sub-imago.  It was good to see several of the sub-imago insects shedding their skins and becoming imagos.  Apart from this being interesting in and of itself it gave a good opportunity to get to grips with the identification better than I had done up to now.  Here are two female imagos, one with what I think is a typical appearance and the second with darker body and almost black eyes.

female imago Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

The next two photos show the same female insect, firstly as a sub-imago and secondly after it had moulted into imago.

female sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

And here is a male before and after.

male sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

Finally here's another male where it didn't quite manage to shed its sub-imago skin.

male sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

A Limnephilus auricula was the only caddisfly, but my first of this common species for a few weeks.  A Brown Chafer was the only beetle and there was only one bug too, but a new one for me, Phytocoris ulmi.

Phytocoris ulmi, North Elmham, 30th June