March Moths

I omitted to mention this Orange Ladybird in my last post - I trapped it on 21st February.

Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 21st February

After a few blank nights while the Beast from the East brought lots of lovely snow things finally thawed on Sunday 4th March when a Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana appeared on the front door.

A trip to Fakenham on 5th produced my first Bee of the year, a Honey Bee I think.  Also Yellow Brain fungus or it's very similar counterpart (thanks again to James for confirming).  There were a couple of Springtails on the base of the fungus.

Honey Bee, Fakenham, 5th March

Yellow Brain (most likely Tremella mesenterica but possibly T aurantia), Fakenham, 5th March

Springtail sp., Fakenham, 5th March

That night Chestnut and Satellite turned up in the trap.

Satellite, North Elmham, 5th March

The following night was quiet with just Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 March Moths and 2 Chestnuts.  There was nothing the next night and just a single March Moth on 8th March.  Things picked up again on 9th with 5 Dotted Borders, 3 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

The following day I noticed a fly scuttling across the patio, a behaviour I don't recall seeing in flies before.  I've not done much with flies but thought this might be worth attempting to identify.  Eventually I narrowed it down to a Megaselia sp. but couldn't get any further with it.  It belongs to the family Phoridae, appropriately known as Scuttle Flies.

Scuttle Fly Megaselia sp., North Elmham, 10th March

That night saw a signifiant up-turn in number and variety of moths: 7 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, 4 March Moths, Pale Brindled Beauty, 2 Dotted Borders, Clouded Drab and Chestnut.  The Clouded Drab was new for the year.

Clouded Drab, North Elmham, 10th March

The following night produced 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Oak Beauty, 3 Dotted Borders and Hebrew Character, and then after a blank night, Common Quaker was new for the year on 13th, with Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut.

A Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella was new for the year on 14th - a species I don't get many of here (average one a year).  The only other moths that night were 2 Hebrew Characters.

Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, North Elmham, 14th March

There were Clouded Drab, 2 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut on 15th and then I was away on the night of 16th.  I did leave the trap running though (on timer) and when I returned in the evening there was a Clouded Drab in it. No more moths in the snow that night thouugh, or the next couple of nights.

Things re-started with 2 Hebrew Characters on 19th and another 2 on 20th, the latter alongside an Oak Beauty.  I visited Great Ryburgh on 21st and found a Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana in the hide.  That night a Tufted Button Acleris cristana was new for the year; also Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 4 Hebrew Characters.

Tufted Button Acleris cristana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 21st March

The next night was the best night of the year so far with Small Quaker and Grey Shoulder-knot new for the year.  I didn't get the latter species last year and never get many.  The others were 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, March Moth, Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, 4 Common Quakers, Clouded Drab, 4 Hebrew Characters, Satellite and Chestnut.

Sallow Quaker, North Elmham, 22nd March

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 22nd March

Another new moth for the year appeared the following night: Shoulder Stripe.  The other moths that night were Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 March Moths, Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, Small Quaker, 4 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 9 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut.

Shoulder Stripe, North Elmham, 23rd March

Another Grey Shoulder-knot was the highlight the following night.  There was also March Moth, Small Quaker, 11 Hebrew Characters, Satellite and 2 Chestnuts.

Sunday 25th was mild and sunny and as I took the scenic route back home from Norwich at lunch-time I thought I'd probably see a few Brimstones.  A glimpsed butterfly at Swanton Morley was probably Small Tortoiseshell, my first butterfly this year.  Eventually I did see a Brimstone, just down the road at Worthing - and then a second Brimstone outside my house when I drew up.

The only micro in the trap that night was a good one, Red-letter Flat-body Agonopterix ocellana, a species that perhaps surprisingly I hadn't seen until last year.  Other moths that night were 3 March Moths, 2 Oak Beauties, 2 Small Quakers, 12 Hebrew Characters, Grey Shoulder-knot and Chestnut.

Red-letter Flat-body Agonopterix ocellana, North Elmham, 25th March

The following night there was March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, Small Quaker, Common Quaker and 7 Hebrew Characters. No new moths for the year on 27th either though another Winter Shade Tortricodes alternella was noteworthy. The others were March Moth, 3 Small Quakers and 10 Hebrew Characters. A Black Sexton Beetle was my first this year.

Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, North Elmham, 27th March

Black Sexton Beetle, North Elmham, 27th March

There was only a single Common Quaker on 28th.  This Red Chestnut was new for the year the following night.  Other than that it was still very quiet though: Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 3 Hebrew Characters.

Red Chestnut, North Elmham, 29th March

The next night was poor again: Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and 2 Hebrew Characters.  The month ended with Small Quaker, Common Quaker and 3 Hebrew Characters on 31st.


I've been working through a number of beetles I retained last year and managing to put names to most, some more easily than others, but the last one proved a real struggle.  Part of the problem was that I failed to correctly identify what family it belonged and after spending several hours on it on 3 occasions I was ready to give up.  Then I came across the beetle families page on the UK Beetle Recording website and this led me to Scirtidae, the Marsh Beetles.  I'd somehow missed this family so after all this time I was glad to finally have a lead.  In the end I still couldn't get a species-level ID as I believe it's a female Elodes sp., a genus in which only the males are identifiable (at least according to the references I've been using).  On the one hand disappointing that I couldn't resolve it fully but on the other hand satisfying that I finally managed to get as far as I think is possible with such a troublesome beast.

Elodes sp., North Elmham, 19th July 2017

Harlequin invasion and Vapourer

A walk at Massingham Heath on 2nd October didn't produce much wildlife interest - a Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana was the only moth recorded.  A poor catch at home that night consisted of Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, Red-line Quaker, Lunar Underwing, Sallow and Rosy Rustic.

The following night Large Wainscot was new for the year.  Apart from that it was no better than the night before: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Feathered Thorn, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Green-brindled Crescent and 2 Lunar Underwings.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 3rd October

The next few nights didn't get much better:

• 4th: Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lunar Underwing, Pink-barred Sallow, 2 Large Wainscots and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus. 

• 5th: just single Lunar Underwing and Pink-barred Sallow.

• 6th: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Lunar Underwing and Limnephilus lunatus.

• 7th: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Lunar Underwing, Snout and the beetles Nicrophorus investigator and 2 Leistus spinibarbis.

At Cley on 7th this caterpillar was on the boardwalk to the central hides.  I wasn't sure what it was, even if it is a moth or sawfly.  Turns out it wasn't either - thanks to James again for letting me know it's a soldier beetle larva -  I'd never have guessed that!

soldier beetle larva, Cley, 7th October

There was a slight upturn on the night of Sunday 8th with a Spruce Carpet and my latest ever (first in October) Treble Brown Spot.  Not much else though: 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and Snout.

A Harbour Porpoise was about the only non-avian interest at Burnham Overy on 9th October.  That night at home I caught 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Straw Dot, Chrysoperla carnea agg. (lacewing) and 3 Limnephilus lunatus (caddis).

The conditions around lunchtime on Tuesday 10th October must have been just right for ladybirds to be looking for somewhere to hibernate as between about 1 pm and 2 pm at least 36 Harlequin Ladybirds entered my study through the window which was only open a crack.  There were loads more outside that didn't find their way in too.  Among them all was a single 2-spot Ladybird, the first I've recorded here this year (though I'm pretty sure one that came in to hibernate towards the end of last year was still lurking in a corner into January at least).

That night there were 2 new moths for the year - one a lovely species I've only caught here once before and the other a very common and rather less attractive species - Vapourer and November Moth.

Vapourer, North Elmham, 10th October

November Moth (male, 8th sternite checked), North Elmham, 10th October

Other moths that night were 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Lunar Underwing, Straw Dot and Snout.  Other insects included Chrysoperla carnea (lacewing), Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Limnephilus vittatus (caddisflies) and Lamprotettix nitidulus (leafhopper).

The following night there were 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, November Moth, Feathered Thorn, Beaded Chestnut, 2 Lunar Underwings and Barred Sallow, the last of which was new for the year.  No caddisflies, lacewings, bugs or beetles.

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 11th October

It was just as quiet the next evening but still one new for the year - Yellow-line Quaker.  The others were 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Feathered Thorn, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Lunar Underwing, Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Halesus radiatus (caddisflies) and Harpalus rufipes (beetle).

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 12th October

A Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella was new for the year on 13th October.

Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 13th October

This was one of a surprisingly good haul of micro moths which included several species I hadn't seen since the summer. Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana is one I'd not seen anywhere near this late before and as it was fresh it must have been an unusual second-generation.  I had seen late Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana before but it's another one that the textbooks say should stop flying in August. Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis is another one that must be starting to have a second generation - this was my first in October while the Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis is a bit more established at this time of year.  The other micros were more expected: 4 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, North Elmham, 13th October

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 13th October

Bizarrely given the nunber of micros, macros were few and far between and every one of them was a noctuid (at least in old taxonomy).  At least with just singles of each it felt like there was some variety among them: Shuttle-shaped Dart, Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion, Beaded Chestnut, Barred Sallow, Large Wainscot, Burnished Brass, Straw Dot and Snout.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 13th October

There was some interest among the other insects too.  Two lacewings were both Chrysoperla but unusually only one was carnea, the other being Chrysoperla lucasina - just my third.  There weren't many caddisflies but they included my first ever Brown Sedges Anabolia nervosa, a male and a female, along with more usual Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus vittatus.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 13th October

Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa (male), North Elmham, 13th October

Bugs and beetles consisted of Pinalitus cervinus, 2 Kybos sp. (probably betulicola), Edwardsiana sp., Aphodius rufipes and Orange Ladybird.

Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 13th October

Small Purple Flat-body (Agonopterix purpurea)

Best moth on 11th September was an early Large Wainscot.  Thought it would turn out to be a plain-looking Bulrush Wainscot given the date but (a) they don't seem to ever be this plain, (b) it looks ok for Large and (c) apparently it's not too early for Large, although by far my earliest ever.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 11th September

Otherwise it was pretty quiet: 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, 4 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 2 Frosted Oranges, 3 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and 7 Snouts.

Things picked up dramatically the next evening.  Even before starting on what was inside the trap I'd found 52 moths of 15 species round the outside.  Two moths were new for the garden: the wonderful Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella and Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella.

Pied Smudge Yposolopha sequella, North Elmham, 12th September

Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella, North Elmham, 12th September

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana and Lunar Underwing were also new for the year.

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, North Elmham, 12th September

There are a small number of moths that I used to get at the old house at Bawdeswell in much greater numbers than I do here at North Elmham.  Small Dusty Wave is one with, for example 177 recorded on 59 dates in 2013, compared to just singles recorded on 8 dates at North Elmham in 2015.  I've done fractionally better this year but a count of 5 Small Dusty Waves on 11th was quite unexpected here.  A count of 20 Common Marbled Carpets was equally unexpected, more than doubling my previous best.  Another count that came close to double my previous best was 16 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana.

The remainder consisted of Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 6 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 7 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 8 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Grey Pine Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, 11 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, 9 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 15 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 2 Straw Dots and 27 Snouts.

Other things in the trap included 2 Hemerobius lutescens (a Brown Lacewing), 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Forest Bug and my first Orange Ladybird here this year.

 Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 12th September

Two moths were new for the year the following night: Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana and Sallow.

Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana, North Elmham, 13th September

Sallow, North Elmham, 13th September

The rest were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 6 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 9 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 13 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Small Blood-vein, 5 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, 5 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 5 Light Emeralds, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 3 Straw Dots and 17 Snouts.

Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Hornet and Common Wasp were among the other inhabitants of my trap while a Small Tortoiseshell had flown into my study earlier in the day.

A trip to the local patch on 14th September produced lots of occupied mines of Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli.  Also Southern Hawker, Common Darters, the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens, 2 Speckled Woods, 30 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and the hoverfly Eristalis tenax.

Eristalis tenax, Bittering, 14th September

Although there weren't many moths that night one of them was a welcome lifer, Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea.

Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea, North Elmham, 14th September

The others were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 9 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 24 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, Small Blood-vein, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 2 Light Emeralds, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 3 Common Wainscots, 2 Lunar Underwings, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, 3 Straw Dots and 6 Snouts.

A visit to Burnham Overy on 15th was mainly for birds rather than insects, which is lucky as the dank conditions weren't good for the latter.  I did manage 3 Carnation Tortrixes Cacoecimorpha pronubana though.  Also a Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar in Holkham Pines rolling around manically and looking pretty ugly for a hawk-moth.

Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar, Holkham Pines, 15th September

I think this has to be Crab Brittlegill but please correct me if I'm wrong.  (*Edit* Thanks to James for pointing out that while this is probably correct it could be something else, e.g. Bloody Brittlegill - see his comment below.  At least it was a Brittlegill... I must be improving!)

probable Crab Brittlegill, Holkham Pines, 15th September

That night the moth trap contained Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Single-dotted Wave, Flame Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, 5 Lunar Underwings, Flounced Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Straw Dot and 5 Snouts.

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 15th September

I used to see lots coming to light at my last house but this Hawthorn Shieldbug in the trap was my first in over 2 years at North Elmham.  Also 2 Birch Shieldbugs and 2 Hornets.

Hawthorn Shieldbug, North Elmham, 15th September