Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 11: Brindled Beaties and Umbers (Apocheima to Menophra)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE) (continued)


Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria - None in 2019 but I finally added this species to my garden list when I caught one in the trap on 17th February 2020, the first one I'd caught anywhere since 2014.  Previously I'd recorded it twice at my last house in Bawdeswell.  (I caught another at home in 2021).

Small Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 17th February 2020

Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria - 2019 was my best year so far for this species with 26 between 26th January and 23rd February and then my first ever December record on 19th.  18 up to 14th February 2020 was more typical and then at the end of the year there were further December records on 14th and 16th.  Also 2 at the meadows in January 2020.

Pale Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 26th January 2019

Pale Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 19th December 2019

Pale Brindled Beauty, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th January 2020

Pale Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 16th December 2020

Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria - 7 in the garden between 30th March (my earliest ever) and 2nd May.  At the time this was my median year but much closer to my 2 worse years (6 each) than my 2 better years (17 and 24).  2020 smashed the records with 51 between 12th and 26th April including peak counts of 10 on 22nd and 12 on 23rd - I'd never caught more than 5 in a night before.  This species seems to be quite local - I never caught a single one at Bawdeswell and have only ever found one other elsewhere in the UK.  In Spain on 23rd February 2020 I caught 3 moths that I was convinced would turn out to be some European species of Brindled Beauty that I'd never seen or heard of before but in the end, despite their pale grey appearance (completely lacking any olive tones) and early flight period, it seems that these were Brindled Beauties too.  The pattern more-or-less matches British examples and I can't find any reference to any other species that occurs in Spain and looks anything like this, so presumably this is the local form of Brindled Beauty.

Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 30th March 2019

Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 24th April 2019

Brindled Beauties, between Sant Vicenc and Torrelles de Llobregat (Spain), 23rd February 2020

Brindled Beauty, North Elmham, 12th April 2020

Oak Beauty Biston strataria - 12 in the garden here in 2019 including both my earliest ever (10th January) and my latest ever (25th April).  11 here between 14th February and 23rd March 2020.  These were pretty average years.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows.  Such hideously fabulous moths!

Oak Beauty, North Elmham, 9th February 2019

Oak Beauty, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Oak Beauty, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Oak Beauty, North Elmham, 19th March 2020

Peppered Moth Biston betularia - Totals of 8 in the garden between 24th May and 24th July 2019 and 10 between 13th June and 11th August 2020.  2019 was my worst total but numbers have been consistently low since 2017, at least compared to 2015-16 when I trapped 113 over the 2 years.  Elsewhere 2 at Bintree Wood, 3 at Weybourne (including a melanic individual) and one on Mull.

Peppered Moth, North Elmham, 27th May 2019

Peppered Moth, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Peppered Moth, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia - One trapped in the garden on 15th January 2019 and then a record 3 caught on 6th February; in 2020 just singles on 17th and 28th January.  I usually get 3-4 a year but 2018 was a blank year (2021 has been my best year so far).  Elsewhere 4 by torchlight at the meadows on 9th February 2019 and one in January 2020.

Spring Usher, North Elmham, 15th January 2019

Spring Usher, North Elmham, 17th January 2020

Spring Usher, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th January 2020

Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria - A total of 10 between 17th and 27th November 2019 making it my best year yet for this species.  A more typical 3 between 7th and 17th November 2020.  Previous year totals have ranged from zero to 8 and a count of 4 on 26th November 2019 was my highest ever number trapped on a single night.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 13th November 2020.

Scarce Umber, North Elmham, 17th November 2019

Scarce Umber, North Elmham, 7th November 2020

Scarce Umber, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th November 2020

Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria - Totals of 20 in the garden between 9th February and 18th March 2019 and 14 between 16th January and 26th March 2020, above and below average respectively.  Elsewhere 7 at the meadows on 4 nights.  At home this species is often at the house windows rather than in the trap and at the meadows it is invariably found by torchlight rather than coming in to light (even when lights are set nearby).

Dotted Border, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st March 2019

Dotted Border, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria - at the start of the year one in the garden on 3rd January and then, equalling my record count here, 5 on 6th January.  In the second winter period, a total of 17 starting from 31st October.  These continued into 2020 with 7 up to 9th January, then there were 26 between 23rd October and 26th December 2020 (with none continuing in to 2021).  The 2019 numbers were pretty typical but 2020 was my best year here so far.  None anywhere else - surprisingly I still haven't found this species at the meadows.  The photos below have been selected to show some of the variation found within this species.

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 24th November 2019

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 23rd October 2020

Mottled Umbers, North Elmham, 9th November 2020

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 10th November 2020

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 18th November 2020

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 20th November 2020

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 11th December 2020

Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria - 8 at home between 24th April and 31st May 2019 and 11 between 23rd April and 21st May 2020.  2019 was my worst year here so far - 12 a year is average.  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows, one at Sculthorpe Moor, one at Hills and Holes and one in Spain.

Waved Umber, North Elmham, 23rd April 2019

Waved Umber, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st May 2019

Waved Umber, between Sant Vicenc and Torrelles de Llobregat (Spain), 23rd February 2020

Waved Umber, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

Next page: more Geometridae

The end of 2018 - finishing with 614 moth species in the garden

By late November it's no surprise that mothing was slow, the garden trap producing the Winter Moth, 2 Chestnuts, Yellow-line Quaker and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus on 25th. Just 2 Winter Moths on 26th and Winter Moth, Scarce Umber and Limnephilus lunatus on 27th.

It was a bit better on 28th with Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, Mottled Umber, White-point, Chestnut, the caddisflies 3 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus vittatus and the mirid bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Another Dark Sword-grass was the highlight on 29th November, my second in a few days but only my third here since moving in in 2014.  The only other moths that night were Winter Moth and White-point.  There was also the springtail 'Entomobrya intermedia' (in inverted commas because the Hopkin key seems to think this is just a form of Entomobrya nivalis rather than a distinct species).

Dark Sword-grass, North Elmham, 29th November

'Entomobrya intermedia', North Elmham, 29th November

Only one moth the following night, but a Scarce Umber is always nice.

There was a selection of bits and pieces in the trap to kick off December: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, 2 Mottled Umbers, 2 Chestnuts, the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, 8 of the mirid bugs Pinalitus cervinus and the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi. Potentially better than any of those was a psyllid that got away before I could examine it.

With a relatively mild night on 2nd December I had another torch-lit wander round the meadows and found a nice variety of things.  I found at least 40 Winter Moths (including 3 mating pairs) but no other adult moths. A cluster of eggs was eventually identified (thanks to some help from people on Twitter) as belonging to Vapourer moth.

pair of Winter Moths, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Vapourer eggs, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Most of the above were on Oak tree trunks and this was also where I found a couple of bugs: Deraeocoris lutescens and my first Cardiastethus fasciiventris.  There were also 3 Great Four-spot Treerunners (beetles) Dromius quadrimaculatus and 20 Oak Apple Gall Wasps Biorhiza pallida.

Cardiastethus fasciiventris, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

I found 3 rove beetles including a mating pair.  I left the latter to their business but examined the lone individual to identify it - it proved to be Tasgius ater, the first time I've identified this species.

Tasgius ater, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Other things I found included 2 Broom Psyllids Arytaina genistae, 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, 4 Lace-weave Spiders Amaurobius similis*, Irish Yellow Slug Limacus maculatus and at least 2 Common Rough Woodlice Porcellio scaber.   *Theoretically these could have been Amaurobius fenestralis, but if I understand correctly the habitat was better for similis.

Broom Psyllid Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

presumed Lace-weave Spider Amaurobius similis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

Irish Yellow Slug Limacus maculatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd December

The moths at home that night were Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 December Moths, Winter Moth, Scarce Umber, and Chestnut.  There was also the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis, the barkflies Ectopsocus briggsi and Valenzuela flavidus, an Edwardsiana leafhopper and a new leafhopper for the garden, Aphrodes makarovi.

Aphrodes makarovi, North Elmham, 2nd December

The following night there was just a Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and then on 4th just a Common Earwig Forficula auricularia. On 5th there were 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 3 Mottled Umbers and 5 of the mirid bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Next day there was -winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Winter Moth, the caddisfly Limnephilus auricula, 2 mirid bugs Pinalitus cervinus and 2 Common Heart-shields (beetles) Nebria brevicollis. There was also a female Acericerus leafhopper but I don't know of a reliable way of distinguishing females of this genus. Whichever it was, it would be new for the garden.

Acericerus sp., North Elmham, 6th December

Just 1 Winter Moth the following night and then things got really slow with nothing at all on many nights.  There was a Dark Chestnut on 9th, another springtail Entomobrya intermedia-type on 12th, Mottled Umber on 13th and 4 Winter Moths on 14th.

On 15th I joined the Norfolk Fungus Study Group at Bawdeswell Heath for a very interesting fungus foray.  54 species of fungi were recorded, though I didn't attempt to see all of them, preferring to take notes on the ones I did see and photograph as I figured I would learn more that way.  I still managed around 33 species.  Here are a few of them:

fungus on fungus: Ochre Cushion (the dark bits) growing on Birch Polypore (the bracket fungus), Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Candlesnuff Fungus, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Conifercone Cap - growing on a conifer cone, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Olive Oysterling, Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Phacidium multivalve (the bigger spots on the LH leaf) and Holly Speckle (the finer spots on the RH leaf), Bawdeswell Heath, 15th December

Signs of moths included a Mottled Umber, the mine of Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea and feeding signs of Shaded Case-bearers Coleophora potentillae (a species I have never seen).

There were 3 Winter Moths in the trap on 16th along with this springtail, a new species for me, Vertagopus arboreus.

Vertagopus arboreus, North Elmham, 16th December

I found the leafmine of Golden Pigmy Stigmella aurella, and a 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, at the meadows on 17th.

leafmine of Golden Pigmy Stigmella aurella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th December

I was a little bit surprised to find what I believe is Sweet Violet flowering, quite unseasonal I think.

Sweet Violet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th December

There were a few more moths at home that night, with Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana, 7 Winter Moths and 3 Mottled Umbers.

Viburnum Button Acleris schalleriana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th December

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 17th December

The following night saw a return to normal for this time of year, one moth, a Mottled Umber.  There were 2 Winter Moths and a 7-spot Ladybird on 19th, 3 Winter Moths and 4 Mottled Umbers on 20th, single Winter Moth and Mottled Umber on 21st and 2 Winter Moths on 22nd.

Fungi at the meadows on 22nd included Yellow Brain and both the species that produce speckling on Holly leaves, Phacidium multivalve and Holly Speckle Trochila ilicina.

Yellow Brain, North Elmham, 22nd December

I was away for a few days over Christmas and the days I was here there wasn't much happening.  But there was something in the moth trap on 28th December - an aphid.  I tentatively identified it as Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, an ID that seemed fairly likely in view of the proximity of my moth-trap to some Hellebores.  This was confirmed later on 29th when I found a colony of them on the underside of the Hellebore leaves.

Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, North Elmham, 28th December

Hellebore Aphid Macrosiphum hellebori, North Elmham, 29th December

There was a Mottled Umber in the trap on 29th and then on 30th there were 2 Viburnum Buttons Acleris schalleriana, Winter Moth, Mottled Umber and Dark Chestnut. The Acleris were the finale of a fantastic year for this species - I ended up with 11 individuals which isn't bad considering there haven't been that many seen in the entire county in any previous year.

A 7-spot Ladybird was the only insect noted at the meadows on New Year's Eve but there was a nice bit of Dog's Sick Slime Mould...

Dog's Sick Slime Mould, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st December

Also some Mint Mildew Neoerysiphe galeopsidis.  As usual, thanks to James Emerson for assistance with these.

Mint Mildew Neoerysiphe galeopsidis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st December

Finally, for 2018 at least, that night the garden moth trap delivered Ashy Button Acleris sparsana and 3 Winter Moths.

I finished the year with 614 moth species trapped in the garden, higher than 2017 (598 in the end, a bit more than I reported at the time as I had missed some off) but not as high as in 2016 (627).   They consisted of 310 micros and 304 macros.