Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 1: Fruit-tree Tortrixes and others (Olinida to Zelotherses))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE)


White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana - Singles in the garden trap on 24th June and 28th September 2019 and 17th July 2020.  I have had an average of one per year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 21st June 2019 and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana - Singles in the garden trap on 5th and 26th June 2019 and then 5 between 17th May and 22nd June 2020.  I have recorded this species here every year with an average of 3 per year - 5 in a year is the best yet.

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 5th June 2019

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 17th May 2020

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana - 7 at home between 19th June and 22nd July 2019 and 12 between 18th June and 10th August 2020.  In the 5 years I've been here I've had 25-29 in 2 years (2015 and 2018) but only 5-12 in the other 4 years.  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows and 3 at Weybourne.

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham, 18th June 2020

Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana - 3 here between 24th and 29th June 2019 and 4 between 24th June and 26th July 2020.  I record this species here most years but have never had more than 3 in a year before.  Elsewhere just one at Weybourne and one at Bintree Wood.

Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

Common Tortrix Capua vulgana - None.  Despite its name this species appears to be far from common in Norfolk and I've only recorded it a couple of times, neither of which were near here.


Pine Tortrix Archips oporana - None.  I've only recorded this species once, in the Brecks, but it seems to be locally at one or two other sites as Dave N has had loads of them in his pine-free garden in Toftwood.  Maybe not too big an ask for one to turn up here...?


Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana - At least 63 here (but not counted on a couple of nights) between 16th June and 31st July 2019 and 60 between 12th June and 5th September 2020 (including 12 on 24th June).  That's a fairly average year, perhaps a little below average.  Elsewhere recorded at the meadows on 4 dates and at Bintree Wood.  Roughly 95% of those caught here are males.

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 14th June 2020

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

Brown Oak Tortrix Archips crataegana - None.  I've only recorded this species at home once (2018).


Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana - 4 here between 24th June and 4th July 2019 and 4 between 16th June and 18th July, slightly above average.  Also 3 at the meadows.

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Rose Tortrix Archips rosana - None.  I've caught 5 here in 6 years but all of them in just 2 years (2016 and 2018).  I recorded a dozen at Bawdeswell in my last 3 years there but it's only very recently that they've started being recorded from lots of different sites in Norfolk.


Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana - Singles here on 26th July 2019 and 10th August 2020, and one next door on 8th August 2019.  Although I had 7 here in 2016, 1-2 a year is normal.  It is one of a handful of species that I used to see more often at my old house in Bawdeswell.


Yellow Larch Tortrix Ptycholomoides aeriferana - None.  I've only recorded this species at home on one occasion (2016).


Brindled Tortrix Ptycholomoides lecheana - None.  I've had these here 3 times (2017 and 2018).


White-faced Tortrix Pandemis cinnamomeana - One at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and 2 at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August.  None in 2020.  This species is conspicuously absent from my current garden list.


Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corlyana - An average year here in 2019 with 4 between 30th July and 30th August and a good year here in 2020 with 8 between 5th and 16th August.  Also one next door and 2 at Swanton Great Wood in 2019 and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.  A caterpillar at Foxley Wood was possibly this species but I'm not sure enough to record it as such.  Although photographed on a Hazel leaf it was hanging from a different tree (probably Oak) when found.

possible Chequerered Fruit-tree Tortrix caterpillar Pandemis corylana, Foxley Wood, 17th August 2019

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana - A total of 20 here between 15th June and 7th July 2019, above average.  6 on 24th June was my equal-highest count here and was more than the total number I saw in 2020, 5 between 20th June and 24th July (my worst year here).  Just one elsewhere, at Weybourne.

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, North Elmham, 15th June 2019

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana - Recorded on 9 nights here between 5th July and 8th August 2019 (not counted every night but involving at least 15 individuals).  My worst year here so far.  20 between 24th June and 19th August 2020.  Elsewhere 5 caught at the meadows.


Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana - 4 recorded here between 25th May and 5th July 2019 which is my equal-best year (I had none here in 2018) and one on 23rd May 2020.  Also one at the meadows.

Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana - Totals of 22 between 14th June and 12th July 2019 and 26 between 14th June and 16th July 2020.  These were my worst showings in the 6 years I've lived here.  Apart from one in next door's garden and a small number at my previous house in Bawdeswell I've never recorded this species anywhere else.


Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana - Recorded at home on 20th and 23rd June 2019 and 3 between 20th August and 22nd September 2020.  Neither of the 2019 records were in my trap - the first was found indoors and the second netted during the morning.  The latter is not surprising given how many I've seen flying in day-time at Burnham Overy over the years, but I think all my previous records here (and those in 2020) have been in the moth trap (not quite annual but 1-3 most years).

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 20th June 2019

Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was my only record that year.  I average 3 a year at home and this was my first blank year here.  I didn't have any at home again in 2020 but did find singles at the meadows on 3 dates between 9th June and 13th July and one at Foxley Wood.

Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

Clay Triple-lines and a new springtail

After a good night at the meadows on 15th June it was a bit disappointing not to catch a great many moths at home.  Of just 35 species Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Straw Grass-veneer (formerly Pearl Veneer) Agriphila straminella and Smoky Wainscot were new for the year.

Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 15th June

Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, North Elmham, 15th June

Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, North Elmham, 15th June

The other moths were Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 6 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Treble Brown Spots, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Pug, Clouded Border, Clouded Silver, 2 Light Emeralds, Privet Hawk-moth, Pale Prominent, Orange Footman, 5 Common Footmen, 8 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 4 Heart and Darts, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, 3 Brown Rustics, 2 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, Uncertain, 2 Mottled Rustics, 14 Straw Dots and Snout. The caddisflies were Hydroptila sparsa, 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus lunatus.

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, North Elmham, 15th June

Next day I had 2 Currant Clearwings come to lure, new for the year.

Currant Clearwing, North Elmham, 16th June

This Clay Triple-lines was a surprise find inside the house, new for the year and only my third here since moving in in 2014.

Clay Triple-lines, North Elmham, 16th June

Not a bad haul of moths overnight with 10 new for the year: Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, White-triangle Slender Caloptilia stigmatella, White-headed Ermine Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, 2 Sloe Flat-bodies Luquetia lobella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Small Blood-vein and Small Dusty Wave.

Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, North Elmham, 16th June

White-headed Ermine Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, North Elmham, 16th June

Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, North Elmham, 16th June

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 16th June

White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, North Elmham, 16th June

Small Dusty Wave, North Elmham, 16th June

Apart from those there were 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis cerasana, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 4 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Marsh Greys Eudonia pallida, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 7 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 3 False Cacao Moths Ephestia woodiella, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 2 Riband Waves, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Garden Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, Sharp-angled Carpet, 5 Common Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, Brown Silver-line, 2 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, Common White Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Eyed Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Orange Footmen, Common Footman, White Ermine, 10 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 4 Flame Shoulders, Ingrailed Clay, Bright-line Brown-eye, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, Dark Arches, 6 Middle-barred Minors, 5 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, 25 Straw Dots, 8 Snouts and 3 Small Fan-foots.


This springtail proved to be Entomobrya intermedia, a new species for me.

Entomobrya intermedia, North Elmham, 16th June

Other things included caddisflies Polycentropus flavomaculatus (new for the year) and Limnephilus lunatus, leafhoppers 2 Oncopsis flavicollis, Oncopsis subangulata (new for the year) and Fagocyba cruenta and beetles Ptinus sexpunctatus and Dasytes aeratus.

Polycentropus flavomaculatus, North Elmham, 16th June

Oncopsis subangulata, North Elmham, 16th June

New for Norfolk!

On Thursday 1st June I had a first for Norfolk in my moth trap!  It wasn't a moth, but a Wax Fly, not flies but relatives of Lacewings.  Unlike the larger and more familiar green and brown lacewings these tiny insects are covered in white powdery scales.  They are otherwise pretty non-descript and there are a number of species - some can be identified by external features such as wing venation while others, including this one, require examination of the male genitalia.  Fortunately this one was a male, and I did the necessary... it proved to be Coniopteryx esbenpeterseni, a species first recognised in Britain 30 years ago but subsequently found (by checking museum specimens) to have been present here much longer.  It has proved to be fairly common and widespread across much of southern and central England and was presumed to be present in Norfolk... but until now there were no actual records in Norfolk.

Coniopteryx esbenpeterseni (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st June - the first record for Norfolk!

Among the moths only a couple of species were new for the year: 2 Common Rush Case-bearers Coleophora alticolella and Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana.

Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st June

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, North Elmham, 1st June

Other moths that night were 8 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, Treble Brown Spot, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 4 Green Carpets, 2 Mottled Pugs, 9 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 7 White Ermines, 5 Buff Ermines, 3 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Bright-line Brown-eye, Lychnis, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 3 Brown Rustics, Angle Shades, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 7 Treble Lines and 9 Straw Dots.

Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, North Elmham, 1st June

Buff Ermine, North Elmham, 1st June

The Mayfly Lake Olive Cloeon simile was my first here this year.

Lake Olive Cloeon simile, North Elmham, 1st June

Caddisflies included Athripsodes aterrimus and Mystacides longicornis, the former being new for the year.

Athripsodes aterrimus, North Elmham, 1st June

This soldier beetle proved to be the reddish form of Cantharis rufa - the first time I've positively identified this species.

Cantharis rufa, North Elmham, 1st June

The bug Kleidocerys resedae was my first this year.

Kleidocerys resedae, North Elmham, 1st June

Pale Eggar and Sycamore-seed Pigmy

Three new macros for the garden year list on 28th August including my second ever Pale Eggar.  The other two were Frosted Orange and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Pale Eggar, North Elmham, 28th August

Frosted Orange, North Elmham, 28th August

Pinion-streaked Snout, North Elmham, 28th August

Two of the 3 Silver Ys were the tiny variant f. gammina, while other migrants included Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella and Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis.

Silver Ys (typical individual above, f. gammina below), North Elmham, 28th August

The rest were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Black-headed Conches Cochylis atricapitana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, 12 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 3 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Garden Carpets, Common Carpet, Purple Bar, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 5 Green Carpets, Double-striped Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, 16 Brimstone Moths, 2 Dusky Thorns, Willow Beauty, Common Wave, Poplar Hawkmoth, 11 Flame Shoulders, 19 Large Yellow Underwings, 10 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 14 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 10 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Knot Grass, Copper Underwing, 11 Flounced Rustics, 4 Burnished Brasses, Spectacle, 9 Straw Dots and 8 Snouts.

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 28th August

Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, North Elmham, 28th August

Other wildlife included Common Frog, the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens, Forest Bug and a Common Carder Bee.

Common Carder Bee, North Elmham, 28th August

There were far fewer moths on 29th - just these: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Orange Swift, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Garden Carpets, 2 Common Carpets, Double-striped Pug, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Light Emerald, 7 Flame Shoulders, 12 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Small Square-spots, 7 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 10 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, 5 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 4 Burnished Brasses and Snout.

The day after was better again, the highlight being a new moth for me, Sycamore-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia decentella.

Sycamore-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia decentella, North Elmham, 28th August

A Birch Ermel Swammerdamia caesiella was, perhaps surprisingly, new for the house.

Birch Ermel Swammerdamia caesiella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 28th August

This Feathered Gothic was also new for the year.

Feathered Gothic, North Elmham, 28th August

The rest were Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, 3 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Blood-vein, Common Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 7 Green Carpets, Lime-speck Pug, Triple-spotted Pug, 2 Currant Pugs, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Treble-bars, 2 Yellow-barred Brindles, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, 7 Light Emeralds, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Dingy Footman, 5 Flame Shoulders, 19 Large Yellow Underwings, 13 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Small Square-spots, 13 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, Six-striped Rustic, 7 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 2 Common Wainscots, Straw Underwing, 5 Flounced Rustics, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Spectacle, 8 Straw Dots and 10 Snouts.

Bugs included Lygus pratensis, new for the house, Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug and the leafhopper Balclutha punctata.  Lacewings were represented by Hemerobius humulinus.

Lygus pratensis, North Elmham, 28th August

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 28th August