Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Golds (Micropterigidae), Purples (Eriocraniidae) and Swifts (Hepialidae)

GOLDS (MICROPTERIGIDAE)


Red-barred Gold Micropterix tunbergella - None.  I'm yet to find this species anywhere but I reckon there's a chance of finding it on the Hawthorn flowers at the meadows.  Probably not much chance of finding it at home.


Black-headed Gold Micropterix mansuetella - None.  Another one I'm not expecting to find at home, but perhaps half a chance of getting them at the meadows someday.


White-barred Gold Micropterix aruncella - None.  Perhaps a bit more likely that than the previous species to turn up at the meadows and who knows, maybe even at home one day.


Plain Gold Micropterix calthella - Up to 10+ at the meadows between 12th and 25th May 2019 and up to 7 between 25th April and 15th May 2020.  I've not recorded this at home, and not really expecting it either.

Plain Golds Microtperix calthella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th April 2020

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PURPLES (ERIOCRANIIDAE)


Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella - One in my garden moth trap on 11th April 2020 was only my second here (following one in 2016).  Singles recorded at the meadows on 3 dates between 21st and 29th April 2019 and on 10th and 24th April 2020.

Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, North Elmham, 11th April 2020

White-spot Purple Eriocrania unimaculella - None.  I've never seen this species but there are records reasonably nearby so it may well crop up here sometime.


Mottled Purple Eriocrania sparrmannella - None.  Another one I've never seen, and a striking species that I would very much like to see.  It seems to be fairly widespread, if scarce, so must be a fair chance of coming across it sooner or later.


Small Birch Purple Eriocrania salopiella - None.  I've never caught this species though I did photograph one Dave N caught once.  It's another reasonably widespread species that might turn up here someday.


Washed Purple Eriocrania cicatricella - None.  Yet another scarce but widespread member of the family that I'm yet to encounter.


Early Purple Eriocrania semipurpurella - A male was netted in flight at the meadows fairly early in the morning on 17th April 2019, only the second time I've confirmed this species.  There were also some unidentified Eriocrania mines in the Downy Birch that was growing along the disused railway (sadly these trees were chopped dowin in the autumn).  I haven't recorded this species at home yet.

Early Purple Eriocrania semipurpurella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th April 2019

Large Birch Purple Eeriocrania sangii - None.  I have recorded this species at home once (2018) - the only Eriocrania that I've recorded here.

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SWIFTS AND GHOST MOTH (HEPIALIDAE)


Orange Swift Triodia sylvina - 2019 was a below-average year with 14 at home between 7th August and 4th September; also one to light at the meadows, a big female scattering its eggs.  2020 was more typical with 24 between 5th August and 13th September, but none anywhere else.

female Orange Swift, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina - A total of 56 in the garden moth trap between 17th May and 19th June 2019, just about my best year here.  Fewer in 2020 with 30 between 20th May and 21st June.  Also up to 10 at the meadows on 3 dates in 2019 and 2 in 2020.

Common  Swift, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Gold Swift Phymatopus hecta - None.  I've never recorded this species at home or at the meadows but it must be a strong possibility as I've seen it at Bintree Wood and Beetley Common.  Its foodplant (Bracken) doesn't grow at the meadows but does grow just a few yards further down the railway line.


Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli - Singles recorded at home on 7 nights between 24th June and 30th July 2019, my joint worst year in 5 for this species.  However 2020 was even worse with singles on just 2 nights, 8th and 9th July.  Also one at the meadows on 9th June 2020.

Ghost Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 9th June 2020

Next page: Pigmies (Nepticulidae)

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

My first Yponomeuta plumbella

Nothing to shout about on the night of 18th August but 19th was better with my first ever Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella.

Black-tipped Ermine Yponomeuta plumbella, North Elmham, 19th August

Two micros requiring gen detting were new for the house despite both being common at my last house in Bawdeswell: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella and Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta.

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

The other micros recorded were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 22 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 14 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros were 2 Orange Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, 7 Riband Waves, 2 Common Carpets, Green Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, Treble-bar, 2 Magpie Moths, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Peppered Moth, 4 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, 3 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Black Arches, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 14 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 3 Small Square-spots, 9 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spotted Clays, 4 Six-striped Rustics, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Nutmeg, Lychnis, 4 Common Wainscots, 2 Old Ladies, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, 9 Flounced Rustics, Rustic, Burnished Brass, Spectacle and 3 Straw Dots.

Orange Swift, North Elmham, 19th August

The full list for 18th was Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 24 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Orange Swift, Oak Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Magpie Moth, 2 Brimstone Moths, Peppered Moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 5 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Cloaked Minor, 13 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, Vine's Rustic and Straw Dot.

Mediocrity

A wander round Syderstone Common at lunchtime on 7th August turned up a few moths and butterflies, though nothing extraordinary.  Holly Blue was the best of the butterflies; the moths were 4 Barred Grass-veneers Agriphila inquinatella, 10 Six-spot Burnets, Common Carpet and Yellow Shell.

That night wasn't the best but two common macros were new for the year: Orange Swift and Six-striped Rustic.

Orange Swift, North Elmham, 7th August

Six-striped Rustic, North Elmham, 7th August

Most notable species recorded were Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima and Fen Wainscot.

Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima (male, gen det), North Elmham, 7th August

Fen Wainscot, North Elmham, 7th August

The rest were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 23 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 22 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Pebble Hook-tip, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 9 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Tawny Speckled Pug, Double-striped Pug, Peppered Moth, 4 Willow Beauties, Iron Prominent, 2 Pebble Prominents, Swallow Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Yellow-tail, Rosy Footman, 2 Dingy Footmen, 6 Scarce Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 10 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Nutmegs, Clay, Common Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustics, Uncertain (and an Uncertain or Rustic), 2 Nut-tree Tussocks and Snout.

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 7th August

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (male, gen det), North Elmham, 7th August

Tawny Speckled Pug, North Elmham, 7th August