Leopard Moth and Red-tipped Clearwing

New for the year on 4th July were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana and Leopard Moth.

Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, North Elmham, 4th July

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, North Elmham, 4th July

Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 4th July

The other moths were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Drinker, Small Fan-footed Wave, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, 3 Clouded Borders, 2 Willow Beauties, Engrailed, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, Dingy Footman, 33 Common Footmen, 11 Buff Ermines, Double Square-spot, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Dark Arches, 3 Common Rustics, 13 Uncertains, 5 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, Straw Dot and Fan-foot.

A whirligig beetle proved to be a Common Whirligig Gyrinus substriatus, the first time I have identified any of this family to species level.  There was also another Lagria hirta.

Common Whirligig Gyrinus substriatus, North Elmham, 4th July

Other things included the brown lacewings Hemerobius humulinus, the caddisflies Hydropsyche siltalai and Limnephilus marmoratus, a Common Toad and new for the garden, the common centipede Lithobius forficatus.

Common Lithobius Lithobius forficatus, North Elmham, 4th July

I left the pheromone lure for Red-tipped Clearwing out in the garden and attracted one Red-tipped Clearwing, my first of the year.

Red-tipped Clearwing, North Elmham, 4th July - with a close-up showing the vivid orange palps

A morning visit to the Cathedral Meadows was productive, being one of the better days for butterflies including 3 Large Whites, 13 Green-veined Whites, 35 Meadow Browns, 120 Ringlets, 5 Gatekeepers (the only date I saw multiple Gatekeepers this year), Essex Skipper and 20 Small Skippers.  Moths consisted of Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella and 6 Cinnabar caterpillars.

Essex Skipper, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

I retained this Field Grasshopper in order to confirm its identification, not realising that it wasn't fully adult - when I looked at it later in the week it had moulted.

Field Grasshopper, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

the same Field Grasshopper and its former skin on 9th July

Dragonflies included Banded Demoiselle and 2 Ruddy Darters.

Banded Demoiselle, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Ruddy Darter, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

There were lots of Common Red Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulva again (at least the two I checked were this species and the others looked the same), as well as 7-spot Ladybirds and Swollen-thighed Beetles.

A Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes was a new one for me; other hymenoptera included German Wasp, 10 Red-tailed Bumblebees and Common Carder Bee.  Hoverflies included probable Sphaerophoria taeniata, Cheilosia illustrata and Volucella pellucens.

Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

I think this leafmine on a Sow-thistle belongs to the fly Liriomyza sonchi.

leafmine of Liriomyza sonchi on Sow-thistle sp., North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

I returned to the meadows that night for some moth-trapping.  This proved successful and I caught 104 species before heading home.  Although there was nothing enormously exciting among them there were plenty of good moths like Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salaciella, Ash-bud Moth Prays fraxinella, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, 2 White-foot Bells Epiblema foenella, Large Grey Scoparia subfusca, Peach Blossom, Buff Arches and Dotted Fan-foot.

Ash-bud Moth Prays fraxinella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

White-foot Bell Epiblema foenella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Large Grey Scoparia subfusca, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Buff Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Dotted Fan-foot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

In theory you can't separate Orchard, Apple and Spindle Ermines from one another but I'm not sure either Apple or Spindle can ever get as grey as some Orchard Ermines, in which case this one was surely an Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella.

probable Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

The others were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Hawthorn Ermines Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Common Oak Case-bearers Coleophora lutipennella, 2 Tipped Oak Case-bearers Coleophora flavipennella, 8 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 3 Knapweed Conches Agapeta zoegana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Brown-barred Tortrix Epagoge grotiana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 3 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 4 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, 2 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, 2 Bramble Shoots Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 3 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 5 Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Riband Waves, Common Carpet, Barred Yellow, Small Rivulet, Bordered Pug, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, 2 Clouded Silvers, Poplar Hawk-moth, 4 Elephant Hawk-moths, Iron Prominent, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, Yellow-tail, Round-winged Muslin, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, 10 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Short-cloaked Moth, Heart and Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, Knot Grass, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Dusky Sallow, Uncertain, Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot, 2 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

White Plume Pterophorus pentadactylus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Brimstone Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Coxcomb Prominent, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Rosy Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July

Other insects included Common Earwig, the caddisflies Goera pilosa and Limnephilus rhombicus and the beetle Lagria hirta.

Coleophora solitariella - first modern record of an adult in Norfolk

A stroll round Syderstone Common during my lunch break on 4th July produced 16 Small Heaths, Ringlet and some Meadow Browns.  Several Skippers were too fleeting to identify but one that sat out was a Small Skipper.  The only moths seen were 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis.

It's always exciting to see what you can find among the Coleophora, but if you get anything good you tend not to know it until you have it under a microscope.  Often though you can have a pretty good stab at the ID beforehand and when you get stuck on externals there's a better chance that the internals will reveal something interesting.  That was the case with one of the Coleophora on 4th July.  Not obvious what it might be on externals so I chopped it.  I didn't immediately recognise the genitalia so at this point I went back to the moth and took it through the key in MOGBI.  That often fails - a moth only has to have antennae ringed to the tip when MOGBI thinks it shouldn't and the right answer gets ruled out, for example, but on this occasion it came up trumps.  Once a provisional answer had been arrived at I checked the genitalia against that and yes, that was the boy!  Ochreous Case-bearer Coleophora solitariella.  Not many records in Norfolk and looking at the detail it seems that all the modern ones are of larvae.  There are two records from 1874 that don't say if they're adult or not, but mine seems to be the first adult to be found (and identified) in Norfolk in modern times.

That might suggest that they're rather rare, but I suspect they're not really.  Stewart Wright has found their larvae in several places over the last couple of years so they can't be all that rare.  Various references say the adults are rarely observed, so presumably it just doesn't come to light all that often for some reason.  Plus of course it's a Coleophora - not many people bother with them!

Ochreous Case-bearer Coleophora solitariella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 4th July

A couple of other micros were new for the house: Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella and Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana.

Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella, North Elmham, 4th July

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, North Elmham, 4th July

Most of the other additions to the garden year list were also micros: Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 3 Variegated Golden Tortrices Archips xylosteana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, White-foot Bell Epiblema foenella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella and Scalloped Oak.

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham, 4th July

White-foot Bell Epiblema foenella, North Elmham, 4th July

Scalloped Oak, North Elmham, 4th July

Vareigated Golden Tortrix Archips xtlosteana, North Elmham, 4th July

Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 4th July

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, North Elmham, 4th July

 Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, North Elmham, 4th July

Of the 81 species of moth recorded that night the rest of the micros were 2 Case-bearing Clothes Moths Tinea pellionella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 7 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 12 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, 29 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 4th July

Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham, 4th July

The remaining micros were 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 7 Riband Waves, 4 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, 2 Grey Pugs, Green Pug, Clouded Border, Swallow-tailed Moth, 2 Peppered Moths, 5 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, 3 Elephant Hawkmoths, Rosy Footman, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, 2 Heart and Darts, 10 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 7 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, 2 Poplar Greys, 3 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 9 Dark Arches, Light Arches, Marbled Minor, Rufous Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, 3 Middle-barred Minors, 7 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, Spectacle, 3 Straw Dots, 6 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 4th July

Caddisflies included Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Hydropsyche sp. (probably siltalai), Limnephilus auriculas, Limnephilus lunatus and Leptocerus tineiformis. Also another Summer Chafer.

The following night there were just 4 new for the year: Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Common Rustic and Rustic.

The others were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 3 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Common Footmen, 9 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 2 Flames, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown Rustic, 3 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 9 Uncertains, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot, 4 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

Another day, another lifer

14th July was another good night with 461 moths of 111 species.  Among them was a Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana, a new moth for me.

Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana, North Elmham, 14th July

I included mention of Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella in my previous post covering 13th July.  Wondered why I couldn't find any photos in my folder for 13th July - turns out I entered the date incorrectly in my databse, it was actually on 14th July.  So here it is...

Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella, North Elmham, 14th July

Again several species were new for the year, at least for the garden: 2 Purple Argents Argyresthia albistria, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis heparana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Gold Triangles Hypsopygia costalis, Drinker, Lesser Cream Wave, Brown Scallop, 2 Small Rivulets, Turnip Moth, Miller, Marbled Beauty and Ear Moth.

Purple Argents Argyresthia albistria, North Elmham, 14th July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 14th July

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, North Elmham, 14th July

Drinker, North Elmham, 14th July

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 14th July

Brown Scallop, North Elmham, 14th July

Turnip Moth, North Elmham, 14th July

Marbled Beauty, North Elmham, 14th July

Ear Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

The other macros were Leopard Moth, Pebble Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Small Blood-vein, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 15 Riband Waves, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, 2 July Highflyers, 4 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, Peppered Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Common White Wave, Common Wave, 6 Clouded Silvers, 4 Elephant Hawkmoths, 3 Yellow-tails, 5 Round-winged Muslins, 6 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dingy Footmen, 6 Scarce Footmen, 35 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, 7 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Shears, 4 Dot Moths, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 2 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, Dun-bar, 3 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 19 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, 3 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, 16 Snouts, 4 Fan-foots and Dotted Fan-foot. 

 Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 14th July

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 14th July

July Highflyers, North Elmham, 14th July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 14th July

Grey Dagger (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

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

The other micros were Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella, 19 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 4 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Grey Tortrices Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 8 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 63 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 14 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 7 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 17 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 6 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 5 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, 5 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 7 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella and 5 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, North Elmham, 14th July

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 14th July

Not sure if I would have identified this correctly without dissecting it.  The pale infilled crosses look more lacustrata to me, altjough other features point towards mercurella.

Small Grey Eudonia mercurella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

This Brown Chafer was my first at North Elmham:

Brown Chafer, North Elmham, 14th July