Honeysuckle Moth and more

Tuesday 15th August was a quiet nigth with just the following trapped: Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 16 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Brimstone Moth, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Small Square-spots, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Common Wainscot, Flounced Rustic and Straw Dot; also the beetle Bradycellus verbasci. There was also Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella and Black Sexton Beetle in the house.

Next day was much better with 47 species of moth including no less than 5 new for the year: Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella (not quite annual here), Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis (a migrant), Tawny Speckled Pug, Narrow-winged Pug (mainly a heathland species but I've had singles at home in each of the last 3 years) and Straw Underwing.

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, North Elmham, 16th August

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 16th August

Tawny Speckled Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Narrow-winged Pug, North Elmham, 16th August

Straw Underwing, North Elmham, 16th August

Other moths that night were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 14 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Garden Carpets, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Currant Pug, 9 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 3 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, Pale Prominent, Dingy Footman, 3 Flame Shoulders, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 10 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, 2 Common Wainscots, Flounced Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 3 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

Two of the 4 species of caddisflies were new for the year: Crunoecia irrorata and Grammotaulius nigropunctatus; the others were Hydropsyche pellucidula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Crunoecia irrorata (male), North Elmham, 16th August

Grammotaulius nigropunctatus (female), North Elmham, 16th August

A Chrysoperla lucasina was only my second example of this green lacewing; there was also a female Chrysoperla carnea agg.  There were 3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), a Forest Bug, the leafhopper Empoasca vitis and a new beetle for the house: Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 16th August

Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium, North Elmham, 16th August

Cornish mothing

I spent a week in Cornwall at the beginning of this month and hoped to pick up on a few different moths and other inverts.  Well, the weather had other ideas - virtually every night was clear and cold and the ones that were slightly less so were too windy.  I set up the trap in the garden of where we were staying every night but by and large the catches were very similar to what I catch at home on an average night at this time of year.

• Saturday 1st: 2 March Moths, 5 Water Carpets, Double-striped Pug, 2 Early Thorns, Oak Beauty, 5 Common Quakers, 13 Hebrew Characters and Dark Chestnut;

• Sunday 2nd: 2 March Moths, Streamer, Water Carpet, Green Carpet, Early Thorn, 2 Dotted Borders, 5 Common Quakers, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers, 12 Hebrew Characters and Angle Shades;

• Monday 3rd: March Moth, Early Thorn, 3 Common Quakers and 11 Hebrew Characters;

• Tuesday 4th: Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 March Moths, Streamer, Early Thorn, Red Chestnut, 3 Common Quakers and 11 Hebrew Characters;

• Wednesday 5th: 4 March Moths, Brindled Pug, 2 Dotted Borders, Small Quaker, 6 Common Quakers, 5 Hebrew Characters, Pale Pinion, 4 Early Greys and Angle Shades;

• Thursday 6th: March Moth, Garden Carpet, Dotted Border, 2 Common Quakers and 5 Hebrew Characters;

• Friday 7th: Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Water Carpet, Green Carpet, Early Thorn, Common Quaker, 4 Hebrew Characters and Angle Shades.

Streamer, Cury, 2nd April

So, the moths in the trap were a disappointment, but fortunately there were a few things worth seeing during the week.

Four caddisflies turned up in the moth trap where we were staying, including single Stenophylax sp. on Tuesday and Friday.  I'd never seen either species of Stenophylax before but according to the book Stenophylax permistus flies from April (rarely March) whereas the scarcer S. vibex flies from May, so this being early April I imagined both would be permistus.  Well both were males and the genitalia of Tuesday's confirmed Stenophylax permistus, but the genitalia of Friday's looked different - the apex of the claspers were clearly separate from segment 9 - which indicated Stenophylex vibex.  There are images of the genitalia for both species on the German website http://trichoptera.insects-online.de and comparing both insects to the lateral and dorsal views of each species seemed to confirm my identifications for both insects.  Furthermore it is reported that unlike permistus, vibex shows a second distinct pale area on the wing (although this may not be a reliable feature) - and my apparent vibex did indeed show two clear pale areas on the wing, whereas the permistus didn't.  So I assume I had one of each, and that either the vibex was exceptionally early or else the flight times given in the book aren't reliable for southern Cornwall.

Stenophylex permistus (male), Cury, 4th April

apparent Stenophylex vibex (male), Cury, 7th April

The other two caddisflies caught in the trap where we were staying were both Limnephilus auricula on Friday.  This is probably the commonest species I get at home, though I've not had any caddis yet this year at home.

Limnephilus auricula (male), Cury, 7th April

Elsewhere I spent a bit of time most mornings looking for seabirds off Lizard Point and also saw 4 Common Dolphins on Wednesday and at least one Harbour Porpoise on Friday.

I picked up a few interesting insects out and about including my first Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Comma and Sepckled Woods of the year and 5 Double-striped Pugs flying at dusk on Goonhilly Downs

Comma, Heligan, 5th April

A load of bees attending holes in a bank at the Lost Gardens of Heligan were, I think, Ashy Mining Bees, the first time I've identified this species.

Ashy Mining Bees Andrena cineraria, Heligan, 5th April

A Painted Lady at Dodmans Point was my earliest ever in the UK - by quite a long way.

Painted Lady, Dodman Point, 5th April

Also at Dodman Point I found this beetle, my first identified example of Opatrum sabulosum.

Opatrum sabulosum, Dodman Point, 5th April

Goonhilly Downs in the sunshine on Thursday produced Narrow-winged Pug.

Narrow-winged Pug, Goonhilly Downs, 6th April

Goonhilly Earth Station, 6th April

Nearby I netted 3 Heather Tortrixes Argyrotaenia ljungiana and my first new moth of the trip, Ling Tubic Amphisbatis incongruella.  The latter as been recorded recently from Dersingham Bog in Norfolk and had I stayed at home I'd have probably been looking for it there this week.

Ling Tubic Amphisbatis incongruella (male, gen det), Croft Pascoe, 6th April

 Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Croft Pascoe, 6th April

In the evening I had a look round Lizard Point, finding this Green Tiger Beetle at Caerthillian.

Green Tiger Beetle, Caerthillian, 6th April

A number of Moth Flies (Psychodidae) were near the point and I retained one in order to attempt to identify it.  Not tried these before and am by no means confident about the result, but I think its Psychoda surcoufi.

Psychoda surcoufi, Lizard Point, 6th April

I caught one of 2-3 moths seen along the clifftop footpath by the lighthouse and it was evidently an Agonopterix sp.  It was pretty worn so its identity was not immediately obvious, although had I been in the know the round wing tip should have clinched it even without being able to see the markings.  As it was I resorted to checking it under the microscope...  it proved to be a species not recorded in Norfolk so not one I had on my radar - Rolling Carrot Flat-body Agonopterix rotundella.

Rolling Carrot Flat-body Agonopterix rotundella (male, gen det), Lizard Point, 6th April

There was also a Green Carpet as it got dark and then I headed off inland a bit.  The forecast had promised cloud but this hadn't materialised and temperatures were dropping.  Even so it looked as good as any other night so I had a quick look at a couple of sites with my headtorch - if that proved good I would set up properly somewhere.  A Water Carpet at Brays Cot was followed by 3 Water Carpets, Narrow-winged Pug and Early Thorn at Gwendraeth Valley and an Early Thorn at Croft Pascoe.  But as any hint of cloud disappeared and the temperature fell further any moths became hard to find and it clearly wasn't going to be worth setting up the MV light.

My first dragonfly of the year was this Large Red Damselfly along the path from Kynance to Lizard next morning.  Sadly I failed to find any of the Vagrant Emperors that had been seen on the peninsula.

Large Red Damselfly, between Kynance and Lizard, 7th April

In the evening I returned to Lizard Point to see if there were any more moths flying in the evening sunshine.  I found another moth new to me, although this one should be reasonably easy to find in Norfolk with a bit of effort in suitable habitat: Coastal Flat-body Agonopterix yeatiana.

Coastal Flat-body Agonopterix yeatiana (female, gen det), Lizard Point, 7th April

An Elachista looked interesting and eventually proved to be another non-Norfolk species I'd not seen before: Field Dwarf Elachista consortella.

Field Dwarf Elachista consortella (male, gen det), Lizard Point, 7th April

A walk round Lizard Point looking for migrant birds on my last morning wasn't especially successful for birds but I did spot a caddisfly flying above a stream.  I netted it and checked it at home later and it turned out to be a new species for me: Yellow Spotted Sedge Philopotamus montanus.  This is a common species in the South West, Wales, the North and Scotland but I don't think it occurs anywhere near Norfolk.

Yellow Spotted Sedge Philopotamus montanus (male), Lizard Point, 8th April

Sprawler crawler

My first micro-caddisfly since owning the Caddisfly guide appeared on my car window when I was parked at Bintree Mill last Tuesday.  It proved to be Hydroptila sparsa.

Hydroptila sparsa, Bintree Mill, 10th May

That evening my first migrant moth of the year turned up in the trap, a Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella.

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, North Elmham, 10th May

Also in there was this Narrow-winged Pug, a moth I've often seen on heaths but rarely at home (I had one worn specimen here last year).

Narrow-winged Pug, North Elmham, 10th May

Not much else: Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Shoulder Stripe (a different one to yesterday's, getting late for these), Streamer, Brindled Beauty, Muslin Moth, Cinnabar, Least Black Arches and Hebrew Character.

Caddisflies included Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 2 Limnephilus auriculas and Limnephilus sparsus.

Next day I headed up to Burnham Overy again for birding, but as always kept my eye out for moths and other things too.  The most obvious moths were Cinnabars, at least 5 of which were seen, but some smaller things too.  I found Feathered Bright Incurvaria masculella, Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella and 2 Plain Fanners Glyphipterix fuscoviridella.  I always think the latter look rather special when fresh, a shiny silvery-grey colour with a bright white terminal band offset from the silvery-grey by a dark band.  But in my photos they always look really dull - I can't seem to capture their subtle beauty at all.

Plain Fanner Glyphipterix fuscoviridella, Burnham Overy, 11th May

Green Longhorn Adela reaumurella, Burnham Overy, 11th May

I also found this caterpillar on my camera-bag.  I'm not very good at caterpillar ID and don't have good references, but I eventually discovered that Sprawler caterpillar looks like this.  It's closest relatives don't, so presumably Sprawler it is.  Let me know if I'm wrong though, as always.

Sprawler, Burnham Overy, 11th May

Plenty of Small Coppers on the wing at the moment, and a Wall Brown.  Also saw a Common Lizard.

That night Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana and 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets were new for the year at home.

Brown-letter Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, North Elmham, 11th May

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th May

Other moths in the trap consisted of Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Streamers, 3 Common Pugs, Yellow-barred Brindle, Brindled Beauty, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, 2 Muslin Moths, 2 Cinnabars, 3 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Herald.

Herald, North Elmham, 11th May

Other stuff included caddisflies Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 3 Limnephilus auriculas and Limnephilus sparsus, and a Black Sexton Beetle.  My first Mayfly of the year had to wait until the FSC guide arrived as I forgot to order that one with the others.  Sadly even with that guide I can't be 100% sure which species it is, though it clearly keys to one of the Baetis species.  Pretty sure I can rule out what seems to be one of the commonest species, Large Dark Olive Baetis rhodani - a number of features don't seem quite right especially the un-anulated tails.  I'm left with a choice between Scarce Olive Baetis buceratus and Medium Olive Baetis vernus.  These two species are essentially identical apart from slight differences in their genitalia... but unfortunately the guide does not extend to telling me what those differences are, so I can't check.  On the grounds of probability (given their repective statuses) it's likely Medium Olive Baetis vernus.

Olive Baetis sp., likely Medium Olive Baetis vernus but possibly Scarce Olive Baetis buceratus, North Elmham, 11th May

Scotland moths (well, an Earwig anyway)

I didn't do a post covering my last night before heading off on hols, but that was because there were hardly any moths: White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Common Swift, 2 Green Carpets, Small Square-spot and Hebrew Character.

Saturday night was spent at my parents' in Keswick.  On arrival I hand-caught a Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla in their front garden but it was a cold wet night so I didn't expect much in the trap.  On the other hand it was cloudy, and there were breaks in the rain, so I did hope for more than big fat zero.  But that's exactly what I found in the trap at dawn.  The night was saved by a nice Small Phoenix on the wall along with a Nut-tree Tussock.

I chose a holiday cottage in Braemar partly because the garden looked good for moths.  Sadly I couldn't choose weather that was good for moths and after a night with temperatures that had already dropped to 4 degrees a couple of hours before dusk it wasn't a huge surprise to find absolutely no moths in the trap on Sunday night.

The rest of the four-night stay was dominated by wind, rain and very cold night-time temperatures - on the last morning at dawn my car thermometer recorded minus 2.5 degrees!  Tuesday night produced the only moth in the trap - a single Garden Carpet.  Potentially more interesting was an earwig in the trap... all the earwigs I have ever attempted to identify in the past have proven to be Common Earwigs but this one was much smaller.  A Lesser Earwig perhaps, but most pictures show males and I think this one is a female.  If it is a Lesser Earwig then it would appear to be a noteworthy record - the distribution map in the new insects book doesn't show them extending up anywhere near so far north though the National Biodiversity Network map shows a few dots on the map for Scotland including up the Aberdeenshire coast, so it doesn't seem unfeasible that the species is present here too.  However, I would like to know for sure if this is the correct ID or not - does anyone know how to do Earwigs?  I have the specimen if it helps!

unidentified Earwig, Braemar, 2nd June

Garden Carpet, Braemar, 2nd June

Wednesday afternoon was relatively warm and sunny (between the heavy showers and despite the brisk breeze) and Vitty and I had a walk up from Linn of Dee.  I managed to find a few moths including 2-3 Common Heaths.  

Common Heath, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Quite a few largish moths which seemed to have a bit of colour on them whizzed around the heather but I couldn't get near them with the net and they remained unidentified.  Vitty saw one moth land and I managed to catch it - whether it was the same as the others or not I have no idea, but this one was an Early Thorn.  I could conceive that the others were too, but odd to see them flying in the daytime like this if they were.  

Early Thorn, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

I also netted a Narrow-winged Pug and a Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana.

Narrow-winged Pug, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Linn of Dee, 3rd June

Back in the car park at dusk I netted another Early Thorn, which turned out to be my last moth of the holiday.

The only other insect-news from the holiday were Stoneflies... a whole order of insects that I had not previously encountered.  One or two species do occur in Norfolk but most like fast-running rivers with rocky banks which isn't really the sort of habitat one comes across in Norfolk very often.  In Scotland I found two (probably a whole load more in flight, but two that I got a good look at).  One at Linn of Dee and the other at Balmoral, which appear to be Common Small Yellow Sally Siphonoperla torrentium.  There are a couple of other similar species apparently, and I've no idea how similar, so perhaps this ID should be regarded as tentative.

probable Common Small Yellow Sally Siphonoperla torrentium, Braemar, 2nd June