Review of 2019 and 2020 - Caddisflies: part 2 of Limnephilidae

Family LIMNEPHILIDAE (continued)


Limnephilus affinis - A total of 21 caught in the garden between 12th September and 23rd October 2019 and 12 between 12th September and 11th November 2020 (none seen in either year in the April to June generation when they are always thinner on the ground).  Elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

female Limnephilus affinis, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Limnephilus affinis, North Elmham, 12th September 2019

female Limnephilus affinis, North Elmham, 29th September 2019

female Limnephilus affinis, North Elmham, 20th October 2019

male Limnephilus affinis, North Elmham, 12th September 2020

female Limnephilus affinis, North Elmham, 9th November 2020

Limnephilus incisus - None.  I've not seen this species but it does occur in Norfolk with small numbers of widespread records.


Limnephilus rhombicus - 5 singles caught in the garden between 15th July and 2nd September 2019 and 7 between 19th July and 20th August 2020.  Apparently much commoner next door as I caught 5 there on the only 4 nights I trapped there (7th to 10th August 2019).  Also 4 at the meadows and one at Hellesdon.

Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

male Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

male Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham, 19th July 2020

Limnephilus flavicornis - 42 trapped in the garden between 7th June and 11th October 2019 and 37 between 3rd June and 24th October 2020, these totals being slightly less that I caught here in 2018.  Elsewhere 10 at the meadows, one at Whitwell Street and one at Hellesdon.  There are always considerably more in the autumn period (peaking mid August to mid October, especially September) than in the early summer period (peaking June to mid July).

female Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

male Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 4th July 2019

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

female Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 22nd September 2019

male Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 26th September 2019

female Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 14th June 2020

male Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 24th September 2020

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 26th September 2020

male Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Limnephilus lunatus - This is easily the commonest caddisfly here and I caught a total of 595 in the garden trap between 4th June and 19th December 2019 and 624 between 30th May and 21st December 2020 (the last being my latest ever).  Maximum counts in each year were 47 on 23rd September 2019 and 34 on 22nd September 2020.  Elsewhere 3 next door, 104 at the meadows including 25 to LED lights on 15th September 2019 and 20 on 8th September 2020, and 1-2 at Swanton Great Wood, Whitwell Street, Hellesdon, Weybourne and Row Heath (West Runton).  Also singles on 6 out of 7 nights trapping at Tresidder in Cornwall in early October 2020.

female Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham, 21st June 2019

Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham, 1st November 2019

Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th November 2019

Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham, 30th May 2020

Limnephilus marmoratus - a total of 11 trapped here between 5th June and 22nd September 2019 and 13 between 7th June and 2nd October 2020 - both considerably lower totals than in 2017 abnd 2018.  Elsewhere singles next door, at the meadows, Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street and Hellesdon.

female Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 5th June 2019

Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 6th August 2019

male Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 7th September 2019

male Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 6th June 2020

female Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

male Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 22nd September 2020

male Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 27th September 2020

Limnephilus politus - None.  I'm yet to find this species but there are a scattering of records in Norfolk so it might crop up here at some point.


Limnephilus binotatus - One in the garden trap on 16th May 2019 was only my second here following one in 2016.  Elsewhere caught at the meadows on 22nd April and 25th and 31st May 2019.  None recorded in 2020.

female Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

male Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

male Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Limnephilus decipiens - One caught in the garden on 7th October 2019 but none in 2020.  I had 2 here in 2018 and one the year before.

male Limnephilus decipiens, North Elmham, 7th October 2019

Limnephilus bipunctatus - None.  I'm yet to record this species but it occurs in Norfolk, albeit thinly spread, so it's one to look out for.


Limnephilus elegans - one to light at Teanga Brideig on Mull on 13th June 2019.  This species is rather rare in the east of England but I had one in the garden here in 2018 which was apparently only the second or third record in Norfolk.

male Limnephilus elegans, Teanga Brideig (Mull), 13th June

Limnephilus griseus - None.  I found this species at 2 locations in the Brecks/Fens in 2016 when I first started looking at caddisflies seriously, so got the impression it was commoner than it is - I haven't seen any since.  Looking at the NBN Atlas it looks like it may not have been recorded in the Wensum Valley, so I may have to be lucky to find one locally.


Limnephilus luridus - None.  Another one that has a scattering of records from Norfolk but which I've not come across yet.


Next page: more Limnephilidae

Or return to Caddisfly index

Deraeocoris flavilinea on the wrong host?

The best moth on the night of 7th June was a Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana.  Others new for the year were Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Willow Beauty and Shoulder-striped Wainscot.

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, North Elmham, 7th June

Willow Beauty, North Elmham, 7th June

Shoulder-striped Wainscot, North Elmham, 7th June

Other moths that night were Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 7 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Freyer's Pug, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, 2 Pale Oak Beauties, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, Pale Tussock, 2 White Ermines, 4 Buff Ermines, 4 Cinnabars, 2 Heart and Darts, 4 Ingrailed Clays, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Shears, 2 Common Wainscots, Brown Rustic, Middle-barred Minor, 3 Treble Lines, 3 Mottled Rustics, Spectacle and 5 Straw Dots.  Caddisflies consisted of Hydropsyche pellucidula, Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus (the latter new for the year) and there was the mirid bug Psallus varians and a Common Frog.

The following day I found a Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella in the house, new for the year.  That night a Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana was the best moth in the trap - on average I only get one a year here.  Also new for the year was Treble-bar.

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 8th June

Also that night were Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Common Swift, Cream Wave, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 8 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 6 Common Pugs, Grey Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawk-moth, 2 Orange Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, 5 White Ermines, 9 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame Shoulder, Common Wainscot, 4 Brown Rustics, Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 3 Straw Dots, the caddisfly Limnephilus marmoratus and a new leafhopper for the year, Fagocyba cruenta.

Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 8th June

Fagocyba cruenta (female), North Elmham, 8th June

The next day I had to help the Mrs with something on her allotment and found a few insects while I was at it, including Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Silver Y, Straw Dot and 4 Harlequin Ladybirds (3 adults and 1 larva).  There were also two differnt types of bugs I didn't recognise among the currants.  Well, it turned out that they were all the same species - one adult and at least 4 nymphs, but they were a species I hadn't identified before: Deraeocoris flavilinea.  Interestingly this species is supposed to have sycamore and field maple as its host plants, though it is often encountered on other trees and shrubs.  I can't help thinking this must have bred on the currants though, with so many nymphs present there as well as an adult.

Deraeocoris flavilinea, North Elmham allotments, 9th June - adult above, nymph below

White-barred Clearwings

On Friday 2nd June I headed over to Potter Heigham Marsh where I immediately started seeing Swallowtail butterflies - hard to know how many but at least 4 and probably a very much higher number.  A variety of dragonflies included Large Red Damselflies, Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly (though I still await a photo-opportunity for these) and a brief glimpse of what was probably a Norfolk Hawker.  A Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana was the only moth found.

I knew there was a site for White-barred Clearwing near Catfield but didn't have the details of where to go so, initially unable to contact my source of info (Dave) I headed to the track running east from Catfield Common.  It wasn't the right place, but I put the lure out and in a short while my first White-barred Clearwing was buzzing around it.

White-barred Clearwing, Catfield Common, 2nd June

There was another Swallowtail butterfly here too, along with Common Carpet, Large Red Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly.  By now I'd got the info about the other site and decided to try it too out of curiosity.  An even quicker response there with one appearing almost straight away.

White-barred Clearwing, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

I also tried for Red-tipped Clearwing at both sites but no luck this time.  I did however find a Variable Damselfly - the first I've seen for ages.

Variable Damselfy, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

There were also several Norfolk Hawkers flying around and a couple of Hairy Dragonflies.  Also a Brimstone butterfly.

Norfolk Hawker, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

Moths at Ryburgh that afternoon included 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella and Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana.

New for the year in the moth trap that night were Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Buff Arches, Single-dotted Wave, Sharp-angled Carpet and 2 Snouts.

Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, North Elmham, 2nd June

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 2nd June

Single-dotted Wave, North Elmham, 2nd June

Sharp-angled Carpet, North Elmham, 2nd June

Other moths caught were Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 6 Common Swifts, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Green Carpets, 5 Common Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, 5 Scorched Wings, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Hazel, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Common Wave, 3 Light Emeralds, 2 Eyed Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, Orange Footman, 9 White Ermines, Buff Ermine, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Shears, 2 Common Wainscots, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 4 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, 3 Mottled Rustics, Spectacle and 16 Straw Dots.

Eyed Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 2nd June

Caddisflies included Limnephilus auricula and new for the year, Limnephilus marmoratus and Limnephilus vittatus.  Mayflies consisted of Small Spurwing Centroptilum luteolum (new for the year) and 2 Pale Evening Duns Procloeon bifidum.  Also a Common Earwig.

Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 2nd June

Small Spurwing Centroptilum luteolum, North Elmham, 2nd June