Two-banded Longhorn Beetle

Some good insecting on Thursday 22nd May began at Ryburgh where moths consisted of Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, 3 Cocksfoot Moths Glyphipterix simpliciella and Silver-ground Carpet. I didn't manage to catch a shiny colourful beetle but after finding a similar one at home the following day I identified it retrospectively as Garden Chafer, a new one for me though I'm pretty sure I have seen and not identified them before.  Other beetles were more obliging - there were lots of similar beetles feeding in buttercup flowers and the one I retained proved to be Oedemera lurida, the first time I have identified this species too.  A similar but larger and brighter example proved to be Swollen-thighed Beetle Odemera nobilis.

Oedemera lurida, Ryburgh, 22nd May

Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis, Ryburgh, 22nd May

Moving on to Thursford Wood another beetle was one of the highlights - another new species for me and a more distinctive one, Two-banded Longhorn Beetle.

Two-banded Longhorn Beetle, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Another new beetle was probably Altica oleracea.  I think the relatively large size (compared to other members of the genus) point to this species, plus it seems to be one of the commoner ones (if not commonest), but it seems that the male genitalia ought to be checked when identifying individuals from this genus, and I think this one was a female.

Altica sp., probably Altica oleracea, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

As I didn't fancy taking this one's mites home with me I'm pleased it was identifiable from photos - another new one for me, Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides.

Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Another Malthodes marginatus was identified and 3 Dock Bugs were seen.  A pale green lacewing proved to be Chrysopidia ciliata and there were 15 Azure Damselfies.

Malthodes marginatus (male, gen det), Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Dock Bug, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Chrysopidia ciliata, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Some moths were seen too, of course, including Large Long-horn Nematopogon swammerdamella, Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella, Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, Oak Satin Lift Heliozela sericiella, Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, 3 Sulphur Tubics Esperia sulphurella, 2 Bluebell Conches Hysterophora maculosana and 3 Silver-ground Carpets.

It was a good night for moths at home too with these new for the year: Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Light Emerald, Shears, Common Wainscot and Brown Rustic.

Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, North Elmham, 22nd May

White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, North Elmham, 22nd May

Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 22nd May

Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, North Elmham, 22nd May

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiatata, North Elmham, 22nd May

Light Emerald, North Elmham, 22nd May

Shears, North Elmham, 22nd May

Common Wainscot, North Elmham, 22nd May

Brown Rustic, North Elmham, 22nd May

Other moths were Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, 5 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, Waved Umber, Poplar Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth, 2 Pale Tussocks, 2 White Ermines, Cinnabar, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Nutmeg, 7 Treble Lines and Spectacle.

Eyed Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 22nd May

There were also two caddisflies - Cyrnus flavidus being new for the house and Limnephilus vittatus.

Cyrnus flavidus, North Elmham, 22nd May

Black-headed Gold

On the night of 12th May there were three new moths for the year at home: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana and 2 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella. Not a great deal else: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Common Pug, Scalloped Hazel, 3 Muslin Moths and Hebrew Character.

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, North Elmham 12th May

Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham 12th May

Brown House Moth Hoffmanophila pseudospretella, North Elmham 12th May

There was also a Common Earwig and this Garden Snail, my first this year.

Garden Snail, North Elmham 12th May

Next day at Ryburgh I found a female (unfeathered) Feathered Bright Incurvaria masculella and what seems to be another Phyllobius maculicornis.

Feathered Bright Incurvaria masculella, Ryburgh, 13th May

Phyllobius maculicornis, Ryburgh, 13th May

That evening I went to a concert at Snape so wasn't at home.  I put the trap on anyway and checked it the following afternoon on returning home - don't know how much more I would have found if I'd checked it earlier in the morning but there were just five moths left: Peppered Moth was new for the year, and Green Carpet, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder and Nutmeg.  Also the caddisfly Limnephilus auricula.  I did at least see a Common Lizard at Aldeburgh in the morning.

On Sunday afternoon I found a few moths at Ryburgh: 4 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella, Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, 5 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella.  Beetles included one of the pollen beetles Meligethes sp. and Byturus ochraceus.

Byturus ochraceus, Ryburgh, 13th May

After this I moved on to Whitwell Common where butterflies were represented by Small Copper and Red Admiral.  Among the many Plain Golds Micropterix calthella (over 100) I found at least 3 Black-headed Golds Micropterix mansutella, a new species for me.  Sadly the sun was going in by the time I reached the spot where Dave had seen Red-barred Gold Micropterix tunbergella which would have been another lifer for me.

Black-headed Gold Micropterix mansutella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Other moths were Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, 3 Vetch Piercers Grapholita jungiella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Green Carpets and 2 Rivulets.

Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Rivulet, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Beetles included a Rove Beetle Tachyporus sp. (I can't figure out how to reliably identify these to species level except using a very complex key to the arrangement of the tiny hairs on the elytra which I could barely see under the microscope) and another one that was surprisingly challenging to identify to species level (though I think I got there in the end): Malthodes marginatus.

Tachyporus sp., Whitwell Common, 14th May

Mathodes marginatus, Whitwell Common, 14th May

That night Coxcomb Prominent, Least Black Arches and Treble Lines were new for the year here, with Red Twin-spot Carpet, Green Carpet, 4 Muslin Moths and Flame Shoulder.

Coxcomb Prominent, North Elmham, 14th May

Least Black Arches, North Elmham, 14th May

Treble Lines, North Elmham, 14th May