First garden Campion

New moths for the year on Friday 14th July were Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Black Arches and Lesser Common Rustic but the highlight of the night was a new macro species for the house, albeit an overdue one - a Campion.

Campion, North Elmham, 14th July

Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana (left) and Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana (right), North Elmham, 14th July

Black Arches, North Elmham, 14th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Other moths that night were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 7 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, 2 Least Carpets, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, Yellow Shell, Small Rivulet, Currant Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 3 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, 2 Yellow-tails, 6 Rosy Footmen, 24 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 29 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, 3 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, 22 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

Beetles consisted of my first Nicrophorus investigator (a sexton beetle) this year and 2 Aphodius rufipes.  There were also two Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies) which started off as female subimagos but moulted into imagos during the following afternoon.

Aphodius rufipes, North Elmham, 14th July

Poind Olive Cloeon dupterum (sub-imago above, the same individual having moulted to imago below), North Elmham, 14th July

The following night there were four more additions to the garden year list: Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Small Scallop.

Horse Chesetnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, North Elmham, 15th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristellla, North Elmham, 15th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 15th July

Small Scallop, North Elmham, 15th July

Other moths that night were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, New Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 13 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 4 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 16 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 3 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, 8 Small Fan-footed Waves, 11 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Willow Beauties, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Pale Prominent, 4 Yellow-tails, 4 Rosy Footmen, 21 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 4 Buff Footmen, 17 Common Footmen, 4 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Double Square-spot, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Slender Brindles, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 16 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Among the green lacewings Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the year and there were 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Mayflies were represented by another Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.  Shieldbugs included my first Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug) of the year and a Birch Shieldbug; there was also the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 15th July

Acorn Piercer

Just 3 new for the year on 28th July: Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella and Scalloped Hook-tip.

Scalloped Hook-tip, North Elmham, 28th July

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, North Elmham, 28th July

Here it is with a Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana.  Not all fasciana have such a conspicuous dark patch midway along the costa and I think some examples of these two species can look quite alike.

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana (left) and Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana (right), North Elmham, 28th July

Other micros were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 5 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 2 Woundwort Case-bearers Coleophora lineolea, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 5 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 10 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Pale Water-veneer Donacaula forficella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The remaining macros were Ghost Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, 11 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, Dark Umber, 3 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, Purple Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Peppered Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, 3 Swallow Prominents, 2 Pale Prominents, Yellow-tail, 8 Rosy Footmen, 13 Dingy Footmen, 16 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 50 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Ruby Tiger, Cinnabar, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, 2 Dot Moths, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 3 Clays, 2 Poplar Greys, 5 Dark Arches, 32 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 2 Straw Dots, Snout and 3 Fan-foots.

Dark Umber, North Elmham, 28th July

Peppered Moth, North Elmham, 28th July

Just one Green Lacewing in the trap, a Dichochrysa prasina, which seems to be relatively scarce here compared to some of the other Green Lacewings.  Two more the following night, which I'll post about shortly.

Dichochrysa prasina, North Elmham, 28th July

Gypsy Lane, Brancaster

Dave and I headed up to Gypsy Lane, Brancaster for some moths on the night of 16th July.  We didn't manage to find any new moths for me, although may have come close as we were buzzed by something that may well have been a Lappet.  Frustratingly it didn't stop.  Still a good evening with several noteworthy species seen.  Among the highlights were 2 Saltmarsh Case-bearers Coleophora atriplicis, White-strap Sober Syncopacma larseniella (a species I'd seen for the first time only a week earlier), Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, 2 Hemlock Yellow Conches Aethes beatricella, Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, 3 Acorn Piercers Pammene fasciana, Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Striped Wainscot, 2 Southern Wainscots, Lyme Grass, Fen Wainscot, 2 Cream-bordered Green Peas and Dotted Fan-foot.

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Brancaster, 16th July

 Lyme Grass, Brancaster, 16th July

White-strap Sober Syncopacma larseniella, Brancaster, 16th July

Saltmarsh Case-bearer Coleophora atriplicis, Brancaster, 16th July

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Brancaster, 16th July

Hemlock Yellow Conch Aethes beatricella, Brancaster, 16th July

Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, Brancaster, 16th July

This Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana was living up to its vernacular name more than usual - it lacked the pale shoulders that are normally a determining feature of this species.

 Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Other micros were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 6 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 4 Saltern Groundlings Scrobipalpa instabilella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 4 Bulrush Cosmets Limnaecia phragmitella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, 3 Water-mint Conches Phalonidia manniana, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Pine Marbles Piniphila bifasciana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, White-backed Marble Hedya salicella, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 4 Cock's-head Bells Zeiraphera isertana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 White-foot Bells Epiblema foenella, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Wainscot Veneers Chilo phragmitella, 20 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Base-lined Greys Scoparia basistrigalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis and 2 Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella.

Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Brancaster, 16th July

Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana, Brancaster, 16th July

Water-mint Conch Phalonidia manniana (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Cock's-head Bells Zeiraphera isertana, Brancaster, 16th July

Saltern Groundling Scrobipalpa instabilella (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Other macros were Ghost Moth, 5 Drinkers, 5 Buff Arches, Common Emerald, Single-dotted Wave, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, V-Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, Latticed Heath, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 6 Swallow-tailed Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, 2 Mottled Beauties, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, 2 Poplar Hawkmoths, Elephant Hawkmoth, 40 Brown-tails, 2 Yellow-tails, White Satin, 2 Round-winged Muslins, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 3 Scarce Footmen, Common Footman, Ruby Tiger, Flame, Flame Shoulder, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Small Angle Shades, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Light Arches, Marbled Minor, 2 Rufous Minors, Tawny Marbled Minor, Uncertain, Plain Golden Y, Beautiful Hook-tip and Fan-foot.

Drinker (female), Brancaster, 16th July

Rufous Minors (females, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

With no lifers among the moths perhaps the best observation was a hoverfly - my first Volucella inflata (although I've spent a lot less effort recording hoverflies than moths so it's much easier to find lifers among them).  This is a southern species that only extends up as far as Lincolnshire.

Volucella inflata, Brancaster, 16th July

Other non-Lepidopteran interest included a 10-spot Ladybird and both Cockchafer and Summer Chafer (and a Hobby).

10-spot Ladybird, Brancaster, 16th July

Pammene fasciana

An Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana was among 76 species of moths at home on 17th July.  Although not listed as a confusion species they look a lot like Cydia splendana to my eyes and I nearly passed it off as such.  Pammene fasciana wasn't on my radar so when I put this to one side thinking it looked a little odd I was still pretty sure it would turn out to be splendana.  Even after taking a closer look I nearly let it go as such but there was just enough niggling doubt to keep hold of it until I'd checked references.  Glad I did as although it seems to be a fairly common and widespread species it was my first Pammene fasciana - assuming I've haven't passed others off as splendana in the past.

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, North Elmham, 17th July

I was intrigued by a couple of large plainly marked Cnephasia and on dissecting them they turned out to be Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana.  Well actually one of them alone I would have struggled to confidently rule out Cnephasia pasiuana which, although requiring gen detting for confirmation, is actually pretty tough to separate even then - or at least it seems to be from the information I have access to.  In the end I settled on pumicana for both, which was a pleasing enough result as there are no previous records from this part of the county.

Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th July

Also new for the year for the house was Round-winged Drill Dichrorampha simpliciana.

Round-winged Drill Dicrhorampha simpliciana, North Elmham, 17th July

Nice to see a migrant - everyone else has been getting lots but I've had very few this summer.  But a Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella was a start.

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, North Elmham, 17th July

The other micros were 8 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Red-barred Tortrices Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 6 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 11 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th July

Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th July

Among the macros Small Emerald was the only addition to the year list. The other macros were 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, 8 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Yellow, July Highflyer, Double-striped Pug, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, 4 Buff-tips, 3 Yellow-tails, 6 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 51 Common Footmen, 7 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, 3 Double Square-spots, 2 Nutmegs, 2 Dot Moths, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Brown-line Bright-eye, 6 Clays, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Brown Rustic, Dun-bar, 12 Dark Arches, 5 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, Ear Moth, 18 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, 2 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots. 

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 17th July

Dun-bar, North Elmham, 17th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th July