Review of 2019 and 2020 - Brown Lacewings (Hemerobiidae) and Sponge Flies (Sisyridae)

BROWN LACEWINGS (HEMEROBIIDAE)


Hemerobius humulinus - 10 recorded in my garden in 2019, exactly the same number that I recorded in 2018 and slightly more than in 2017.  The first on 7th April was found on my patio doors (not attracted to indoor lights as they hadn't been on) and the rest were in the moth trap between 28th June and 7th September.  The early one was much more strongly marked than the others.  A poor year in 2020 produced 3 here between 4th and 21st August and one at the meadows on 16th September.

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 7th April 2019

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 28th June 2019

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 21st August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th September 2020

Hemerobius lutescens - Singles at the meadows on 21st and 25th May 2019 then 11 recorded at home (mostly in the garden moth trap) between 25th May and 29th September.  A poor showing compared to 2018 when I recorded 38 here.  2020 was a little better with 18 in the garden moth trap between 31st July and 22nd September.  I think 3 larvae found on a gatepost at the meadows on 12th October 2019 may have been this species but I am not certain.

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 10th August 2019

possible Hemerobius lutesecens larva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th October 2019

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 14th August 2020

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 19th August 2020

Hemerobius marginatus - None.  I've never seen this species and it doesn't seem to be very common in Norfolk, but I've found rarer species so must be in with at least half a chance of finding this one.


Hemerobius micans - Caught in the garden moth trap on 26th July 2019 and 11th June and 22nd August 2020.  This species is normally scarcer here than the previous two species.  Elsewhere netted at the meadows on 22nd May 2019 and 28th September 2020.

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 11th June 2020

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 27th August 2020

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Hemerobius nitidulus - None.  I caught one in my garden in August 2018 but it's a species with only a handful of records in Norfolk.


Hemerobius pini - I found my first of these along a forest path near Salen on Mull on 12th June 2019.  There is, or at least in 2016 there was, only a single record of this species in Norfolk.

Hemerobius pini, south of Salen, 12th June 2019

Hemerobius stigma - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was only my second example of this species following one in my garden the previous August.  None here in 2019 but individuals caught in the moth trap on 30th and 31st August 2020.

Hemerobius stigma, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Hemerobius stigma, North Elmham, 30th August 2020

Hemerobius stigma, North Elmham, 31st August 2020

Micromus paganus - None.  I caught 2 of these at different sites in 2016 but haven't had any since.  This is one I ought to find more often.


Micromus variegatus - A total of 33 recorded in my garden moth trap between 11th July and 3rd September 2019.  These included an impressive count of 15 on what was an excellent night for green lacewings, but not for other brown lacewings, 25th July.  Even with this good night, the total was lower than in 2018 when I caught 55 at home.  Given those numbers it was disappointing to only catch 6 in 2020, between 8th July and 15th August.  Elsewhere 3 next door and one at Swanton Great Wood, all in August 2019.  I used to think this was the easiest of the common brown lacewings to identify and began to identify them in the field without taking them in for closer examination, but then I discovered some photos of Psectra diptera online which look extremely similar (e.g. on NatureSpot which is usually quite a reliable site for IDs) - so now I'm back to examining them all carefully.

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Psectra diptera - None.  I've never seen this sepcies but it sounds like it might be reasonably common, just not found by the sort of approaches I usually employ (like light trapping).


Sympherobius fuscescens - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's relatively scarce there are a handful of Norfolk records so must be a possibility.


Sympherobius pellucidus - A male in my garden moth trap on 29th May 2019 was the first record for Norfolk.

Sympherobius pellucidus, North Elmham, 29th May (showing forewing in second and third photos and the partially cleared tip of the abdomen in the last photo)

Sympherobius pygmaeus - None.  I caught one here in 2018 but it's rarely recorded in Norfolk (2 records prior to 2016) - not sure if mine was the third or not.


Wesmaelius concinnus - None.  I've never found this species but there are a handful of records in Norfolk.


Wesmaelius nervosus - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 24th July 2019 and 18th July and 16th September 2020.  Also one to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.  I'd only recorded one here before, in 2018. 

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

Wesmaelius nervosus, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 18th July 2020 (showing tip of abdomen)

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 16th September 2020 (showing tip of abdomen)

Wesmaelius subnebulosus - None.  I've only caught this species here once, in 2017.  Sounds like this species tends to crop up more in more urban situations.



This larva is completely unidentified - I guess it's most likely one of the Brown Lacewings but if anyone can help narrow it down please shout.

unidentified (?Brown) lacewing larva, Titchwell, 1st June 2019

-----------------------------------

SPONGE FLIES (SISYRIDAE)


Sisyra fuscata - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 11th and 24th July 2019 and then on 4 dates between 17th July and 7th August 2020.  I have previously caught this species here in June 2017 and July 2018.  I think this is the only species of Sponge Fly to have been recorded in Norfolk (it is also known as Sisyra nigra).

male Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

female Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

male Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 23rd July 2020

Return to Lacewings index here

Sorhagenia rhamniella (August Cosmet) - a new genus of moth for me

There are 3 species of Sorhagenia in Norfolk but none of them are common.  Two species have just 3 records each to their name while the third has 13 - from just 4 observers.  So it's no surprise that I hadn't encountered any up to now, but this changed on 15th July when I trapped the commonest of the three, August Cosmet Sorhagenia rhamniella.

August Cosmet Sorhagenia rhamniella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

It was a fairly busy night with 406 moths of 107 species.  Other new moths for the year were all micros: Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, 2 White-triangle Buttons Acleris holmiana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella and Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella (only my second here).

Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, North Elmham, 15th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 15th July

Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella, North Elmham, 15th July

Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella, North Elmham, 15th July

The other micros were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 10 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, 2 Hawthorn Ermines Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, Lesser Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 3 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Rose Tortrix Archips rosana, 9 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, 11 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 3 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 96 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, 10 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 15 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 15th July

Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th July

The macros consisted of Leopard Moth, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 8 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 6 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 2 Barred Straws, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, 3 V-Pugs, 4 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 5 Rosy Footmen, 22 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 26 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 8 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 8 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 27 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and Fan-foot.

Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 15th July

Mayflies included Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Green Drake Ephemera danica and 10 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. There was the green lacewing Cunctochrysa albolineata while the brown lacewing Micromus variegatus was new for the year.

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 15th July

Caddisflies included one new for the house, Agraylea sexmaculata, one new for the year, Orthotrichia costalis, and Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche siltalai, Medium Sedge Goera pilosa, Limnephilus lunatus, probable Athripsodes aterrimus and Leptocerus tineiformis.

Agraylea sexmaculata, North Elmham, 15th July

A leafhopper was likely to be Kybos betulicola which would have been new for the year but as it was a female, the similar Kybos smaragdula cannot be eliminated.  Beetles included 3 Lagria hirta.

Bordered Beauty and more

After a relatively disappointing evening at Claxton with the Norfolk Moth Survey on 6th August I didn't have particularly high hopes for my own moth trap as I emptied it the following morning.  In fact it turned out to be an excellent night at home with several quality moths.  The impression was one of quality over quantity but actually even the quantity was respectable enough for August: 278 moths of 102 species.  There were several highlights but I suppose the moth of the night had to be this Bordered Beauty.  Technically I had seen one before as I happened to be round Dave's house when he had one in a pot that he'd caught the night before, but I don't normally count moths under those circumstances, and in any case it's far more exciting catching your own.

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 6th August

This Straw Flat-body Agonopterix kaekeritziana was perhaps the rarest moth of the night with only two records in Norfolk over the last 12 years (one of which was mine at my old house).  Quite a distinctive and subtly attractive Agonopterix in my opinion.

Straw Flat-body Agonopterix kaekeritziana, North Elmham, 6th August

Another moth that hadn't been recorded in Norfolk for a couple of years was Bog Dwarf Elachista utonella, until I caught one here on 26th July.  That one surprised me as it's a long way from any known sites, so it was interesting to trap another one on 6th August - presumably there must be a poplation not far away. rather than both of them having wandered half way across the county. 

Bog Dwarf Elachista utonella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

Not one but 2 Vetch Sobers Aproaerema anthyllidella were a surprise - new for the house and only my second and third ever.  It's another moth with relatively few county records but unlike the last this species seems to be increasing (or at least is being recorded more frequently) - the vast majority of records have been in the last few years.

Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

Also new for the house, though not so unexpected, was Sallow Marble Apotomis capreana. Several new for the year here too: 2 Sharp-winged Drills Dichrorampha acuminatana, 2 Orange Swifts, Maple Pug and Dusky Thorn.

Dusky Thorn, North Elmham, 6th August

Orange Swift, North Elmham, 6th August

Sharp-winged Drill Dichrorampha acuminatana, North Elmham, 6th August

The other macros that night were Drinker, 3 Pebble Hook-tips, Chinese Character, Small Fan-footed Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 5 Common Carpets, Lime-speck Pug, Wormwood Pug, 3 Magpie Moths, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, Purple Thorn, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, 2 Pebble Prominents, 2 Swallow Prominents, 2 Pale Prominents, 6 Yellow-tails, 3 Black Arches, 4 Rosy Footmen, 9 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, Common Footman, 2 Ruby Tigers, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 7 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Lychnis, Brown-line Bright-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Grey Dagger, 2 Straw Underwings, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Ear Moth, 2 Uncertains, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, 12 Straw Dots and Fan-foot.

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

The other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 3 Ribwort Slenders Aspilapteryx tringipennella, 2 White Oak Midgets Phyllonorycter harrisella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermels Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 2 House Groundlings Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 28 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 17 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 4 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, North Elmham, 6th August

Other insects included the distinctive Brown Lacewing Micromus variegatus, a Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus and Forest Bug (Red-legged Shieldbug).

Lucerne Bug Adelphocoris lineolatus, North Elmham, 6th August

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 6th August