Review of 2019 and 2020 - Leafhoppers part 6: subfamily Typhlocybinae II

LEAFHOPPERS (CICADELLIDAE) continued


SUBFAMILY TYPHLOCYBINAE (continued)


Eupteryx atropunctata - One in my garden moth trap on 4th August 2020 was a new species for me.

Eupteryx atropunctata, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Eupteryx decemnotata - None.  I caught one here in 2017.


Eupteryx florida - One in my garden moth trap on 31st July 2019 was my second here.  None here in 2020 but 4 at the meadows between 8th and 24th April, mostly on White Dead Nettle.

Eupteryx florida, North Elmham, 31st July 2019

Eupteryx florida, North Elmham, 24th April 2020

Eupteryx melissae - One in my garden moth trap on 9th July 2019 was my second record here.

Eupteryx melissae, North Elmham, 9th July 2019

Eupteryx urticae - Found on nettles at the meadows on 19th August and 5th September 2020.  None in the garden but I have recorded this species here before (in 2017).

Eupteryx urticae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August 2020

Eupteryx urticae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th September 2020

Ribautiana cruciata - 2 to light in Cornwall on 7th October 2020.  I've seen this species in Norfolk before but not locally.

female (top) and male Ribautiana cruciata, Tresidder (Cornwall), 7th October 2020 - showing different orientations of the male's aedeagus

Ribautiana debilis - A new leafhopper for me, netted off cherry at the meadows on 3rd June 2020.

male Ribautiana debilis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd June 2020 - showing different orientations of its rather fancy aedeagus

Ribautiana scalaris - A new leafhopper for me, to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

Ribautiana scalaris, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Ribautiana tenerrima - Found at the Cathedral Meadows on at least 4 dates between 5th September and 2nd October 2020, mostly on Bramble and largely thanks to a tip from David (@AmblingMan) on Twitter about gently turning over Bramble leaves that show pale speckling (feeding signs).  1-2 others were not recorded as they got away before I could confirm them, but were probably also this species.  Also 2 to light in Cornwall on 6th October 2020.

Ribautiana tenerrima, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th September 2020

Ribautiana tenerrima, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd October 2020

Ribautiana tenerrima, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020

Eupterycyba jucunda - None.  I found this species indoors here in 2018.


Lindbergina aurovittata - Caught in my garden moth trap on 23rd June and 16th August 2019 and 14th November 2020.  Also beaten from Oak at the meadows on 8th September 2019 (probably - this one escaped before I could confirm it) and 19th August 2020; also to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham, 23rd June 2019

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August 2020

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham, 14th November 2020

Next page: more Leafhoppers

Orange Sallow heads up another good night

An Orange Sallow was the headliner in the garden trap on 13th October, only the third adult I've ever seen.

Orange Sallow, North Elmham, 13th October

A Brown Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria simplicella was also new for the year, and only my second in the garden.  A Common Thorn Midget Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae was also my second here.

Brown Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria simplicella, North Elmham, 13th October

A count of 17 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella smashed my previous record for this species (7).

In total there were 37 species of moth which is a pretty respectable total for this time of year.  The others were 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 3 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Ashy Buttons Acleris sparsana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Single-dotted Wave, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 November Moths, Turnip Moth, 9 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, White-point, Black Rustic, 8 Green-brindled Crescents, Brick, 2 Red-line Quakers, Yellow-line Quaker, 2 Brown-spot Pinions, 3 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, 7 Barred Sallows, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow, Large Wainscot and Silver Y.

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 13th October

Brick, North Elmham, 13th October

In addition to the moths there was another 28 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings, 12 confirmed males and 16 presumed females).  Caddisflies consisted of 2 Brown Sedges Anabolia nervosa, Limnephilus affinis, 6 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus decipiens, Limnephilus flavicornis, 9 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus.   The true (heteropteran) bugs were 4 Birch Catkin Bugs Kleidocerys resedae, Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus, 2 Tarnished Plant Bugs Lygus rugulipennis and Pinalitus cervinus.

If there were a lot of leafhoppers the previous night, this night was crazy.  There were so many small green and  yellow leafhoppers I couldn't possibly check them all.  I checked 8 Kybos spp., but again they were all females so not resolvable anyway.  The yellow ones were mostly female Edwrdsiana spp. which again cannot be fully identified.  There were a couple of male Fagocyba cruenta there too.  The rest of the leafhoppers I did check more carefully - they were Balclutha punctata, Empoasca decipiens, 7 Empoasca vitis and Lindbergina aurovittata.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 13th October

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham, 13th October

There were also lots of Ectopsocus barkflies, of which I checked about 3 (all Ectopsocus petersi).  There weren't so many beetles though 4 Lagria hirta was a good count.  The only other beetle was Bradycellus harpalinus, only the second time I've seen this species.

Bradycellus harpalinus, North Elmham, 13th October

The following night was a completely different story with far less.  The moths were 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 November Moths, Turnip Moth, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Black Rustics, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut, 3 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow and Frosted Orange.  Caddisflies were 5 Limnephilus affinis, 9 Limnephilus auricula, 19 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus vittatus.

In stark contrast to the night before there was just a single leafhopper - mind you that was a better one, Fagocyba carri.  There was only a single Ectopsocus too, a female Ectopsocus briggsi.  There was also another barkfly, Valenzuela flavidus.

The following night was pretty so-so too with 17 species of moth and nothing very remarkable among them: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Blood-vein, Mallow, 4 November Moths, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Black Rustic, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Satellite, Red-line Quaker, 4 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Sallow and Straw Dot.

There was one green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg. and a few caddis: Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 11 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 15 Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Halesus radiatus.  Only one leafhopper, Fagocyba cruenta, and one beetle, a Black Sexton Beetle.

Next day Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana made it on to the year list. I've managed one every full year I've lived here (i.e. since 2015) but have never had more than 2 in a year.

Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, North Elmham, 16th October

A Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana was equally unusual for the garden, though not new for the year.  A Pale November Moth was new for the year though.

Pale November Moth (male, 8th sternite det), North Elmham, 16th October

A Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis was unexpected being my first ever October record.  My previous latest was 29th August so this being a fresh individual was presumably part of a new second generation.

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flannneakus, North Elmham, 16th October

Other moths that night were Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, 13 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 13 November Moths, Feathered Thorn, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, White-point, Black Rustic, 12 Green-brindled Crescents, Brick, 3 Yellow-line Quakers, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Sallow and Straw Dot.

Caddisflies were Limnephilus affinis, 9 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus. The only other things I noted were 1-2 Ectopsocus petersi.

Scarce Bordered Straw and a host of bugs

It was a good year for Scarce Bordered Straw but it took me until late October before I added this species to my largely migrant-free garden list.  24th October wasn't a particularly remarkable night for moths in general but this scarce migrant more than made up for that.  Very pleased to finally get one here.

Scarce Bordered Straw, North Elmham, 24th October

Other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 7 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, Common Marbled Carpet, 6 November Moths, 2 Pale November Moths, 4 Feathered Thorns, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Sprawler, 3 Black Rustics, 4 Green-brindled Crescents, Merveille du Jour, 7 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts and 2 Straw Dots.

It was actually a better night for bugs (including leafhoppers) than for moths.  Heteropteran bugs consisted of a Parent Bug, the first time I've recorded that here, a Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae and a noteworthy 3 Tarnished Plant Bugs Lygus rugulipennis.  I've not been doing the trickier-to-ID bugs like this for long but I have been checking them for the whole of this year and I'd only seen a single up to now so 3 in a night must be pretty good for here.

Parent Bug, North Elmham, 24th October

At least 6 species of leafhopper in the moth trap can't be bad either, and they included one species I'd not recorded before: Eupteryx decemnotata (though this had to be identified from photos as it escaped - I think it's a safe ID but please shout if you disagree).  In the same genus Eupteryx urticae was also new for the garden.  The others were 2 Empoasca vitis, 3 Kybos sp. (all females so not fully identifiable - most probably betulicola but possibly smaragdula), 2 Fagocyba cruenta and an Edwardsiana sp. (female so not fully identifiable).

Eupteryx decemnotata, North Elmham, 24th October

Eupteryx urticae, North Elmham, 24th October

Other inects included 4 Chrysoperla carnea (2 confirmed males), the water beetle Rhantus suturalis and the barkfly Valenzuela flavidus.

A Common Carder Bee next day was the first I'd positively identified in my garden this year, though I'm pretty sure there have been lots that I haven't nailed (I tend to only look hard at the ones that come inside or get caught in the moth trap).

Moths trapped on 25th were 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 November Moths, 3 Feathered Thorns, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Black Rustic, Merveille du Jour, 5 Yellow-line Quakers, Barred Sallow, Pale Mottled Willow and Snout.

Having failed to convince myself about a likely Empoasca decipiens a few days earlier it was good to get another chance.  No doubt about this one, a new addition to the garden leafhopper list.

Empoasca decipiens, North Elmham, 25th October

There wasn't much else - the caddisflies Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus lunatus were all I recorded.

Perhaps the biggest surprise the following night was a Common Quaker - a common species in spring but one I'd not seen in autumn before.

Common Quaker, North Elmham, 26th October

Although that was unexpected the best moth of the night was a Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, a new species for the garden.  It also appears to be the first adult to be recorded in the vice-county (there are mine and larval records).  It wasn't my first - one at my previous house was the first adult to be recorded in the whole county.

Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, North Elmham, 26th October

Other moths that night were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 November Moths, Pale November Moth (plus a female November Moth agg.), 2 Feathered Thorns, Large Yellow Underwing, Black Rustic, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Green-brindled Crescent, 2 Merveille du Jours, Satellite, 4 Yellow-line Quakers, Beaded Chestnut, Large Wainscot and Straw Dot. Caddisflies were Limnephilus affinis and Limnephilus lunatus.

The moth trap was very poor on my birthday night: just Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, November Moth, Black Rustic, Blair's Shoulder-knot, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, 2 Yellow-line Quakers and Beaded Chestnut.

The following night wasn't much better for moths (though Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis was a migrant and only my second this year) but it picked up a few other interesting things.  The other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, November Moth agg., 2 Feathered Thorns, Black Rustic, Brick, 2 Yellow-line Quakers, Straw Dot and Snout.  Caddisflies consisted of 4 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus and there was a Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae.  The barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi was new for the year.

Ectopscocus briggsi (male), North Elmham, 28th October

Leafhoppers consisted of a Fagocyba cruenta and 2 of a new species for me (although they looked familiar so I think I've seen them before without identifying them) - Lindbergina aurovittata.

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham, 28th October

The following night produced only Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Sprawler, 2 Bricks, 2 Yellow-line Quakers and the barkfly Valenzuela flavidus.