A new moth, a new waxfly, a new snail and three new flowers

Monday 30th April was a foul day, wet and windy all day.  I didn't venture out and, extremely unusually for me I didn't even open any windows.  Yet I did record a moth inside the house, my first Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella of the year.

Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 30th April

There were no moths in the trap that night and only 4 on 1st May, but these included my first Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella of the year, and Muslin Moth and 2 Hebrew Characters.

Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st May

Waxflies can be frustrating as so many of them turn out to be female Conwentzia sp., a duo that can't definitely be told from one another (although the number of antennal segments has been suggested as a character).  But they have reaped rewards and I've had two new species for Norfolk here so I always check them.  On this occasion it was just another Conwentzia, but for the first time this one was a male, so my first fully-identified Conwentzia psociformis.

Conwentzia psociformis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st May

I headed back to the Cathedral Meadows first thing on 2nd and added Common Oak Midget Phyllonorycter quercifoliella to the site moth list (one in each tetrad).

 Common Oak Midget Phyllonorycter quercifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

I returned in the evening and found 3 Red-brindled Dwarfs Elachista rufocinerea flying around the meadows.

Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufochinerea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

As it turned dark I found my first macro moth for the site, a Water Carpet.  I also found Common Striped Woodlouse, Tree Slug and this snail which at the time I identified as Pelucid Glass Snail Vitrina pellucida.  I know realise this ID was incorrect, though I'm not entirely sure what it was (updated November 2019).

unidentified snail, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

Common Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

A couple of wildlfowers are species I hadn't previously identified, though I think they're both very common: Three-nerved Sandwort and Meadow Saxifrage.  A third new species was the naturalised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Three-nerved Sandwort, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

Meadow Saxifrage, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

Are these Sulphur Tufts?

Sulphur Tuft?, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May

The temperature was falling rapidly so it was no surprise to find few moths in the trap at home - just 3 Hebrew Characters in fact.

Next day the Large Red-belted Clearwing lure attracted the hoverfly Parasyrphus punctulatus, new for the year.

Parasyrphus punctulatus, North Elmham, 3rd May

That night saw Lesser Swallow Prominent and 2 Swallow Prominents, both new for the year, along with Early Thorn, Muslin Moth, Clouded Drab and Hebrew Character.

Lesser Swallow Prominent, North Elmham, 3rd May

Swallow Prominent, North Elmham, 3rd May

Lesser Swallow Prominent (left) and Swallow Prominent (right), North Elmham, 3rd May

This Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus was my first caddisfly of the year.

Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, North Elmham, 3rd May

Coleophora therinella

The moths at home on 9th July weren't especially numerous, 160 of 68 species, but they included a few noteworthy ones.  Top among them was a Black-bindweed Case-bearer Coleophora therinella, new for the house and only the 6th record for Norfolk (although my third).

Black-bindweed Case-bearer Coleophora therinella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 9th July

Also new for the house was Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella.  Others new for the garden year list were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Lesser Cream Wave and Miller.

Miller, North Elmham, 9th July

Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, North Elmham, 9th July

Other micros were 7 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 21 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Fenland Pearl Chrysopa commata, North Elmham, 9th July

Other macros were Buff Arches, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Small Dusty Waves, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, 2 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, 2 Green Pugs, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Common White Wave, 4 Clouded Silvers, 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, 2 Buff-tips, 3 Rosy Footmen, 5 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, 5 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Dot Moth, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Poplar Grey, Brown Rustic, 4 Dark Arches, Light Arches, Marbled Minor, 4 Tawny Marbled Minors, 7 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Spectacle, 6 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

Of 2 green lacewings one was a lifer (Chrysopa commata) and the other was new for the house (Chrysopidia ciliata).

Chrysopa commata, North Elmham, 9th July

Chrysopidia ciliata, North Elmham, 9th July

Among the caddis probable Hydropsyche siltalai wasn't noteworthy but Agrypnia pagetana was my first this year and seemingly not well-recorded in VC28.

Agrypnia pagetana, North Elmham, 9th July

Also the bug Stenotus binotatus.

The following night saw another new lacewing, Dichochrysa flavifrons, together with a second Chrysopa commata.

Dichochrysa flavifrons, North Elmham, 10th July

Of 201 moths (79 species) that night the best was Forest Case-bearer Coleophora ibipennella, new for the house and possibly new altogether.  I'd caught one once before that keyed out to ibipennella but the keys aren't all that reliable and I messed up the dissection.  Nice to confirm one at last.

Forest Case-bearer Coleophora ibipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th July

Others new for the year here were Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, Nut Bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Phoenix, Brown-tail and Plain Golden Y.

Plain Golden Y, North Elmham, 10th July

Phoneix, North Elmham, 10th July

Brown-tail, North Elmham, 10th July

Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, North Elmham, 10th July

Nut Bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, North Elmham, 10th July

The other micros were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 2 Speckled Case-bearers Coleophora sternipennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 4 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 16 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Yellow Satin Veneers Crambus perlella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Macros included 2 Buff Arches, 2 Common Emeralds, Small Fan-footed Wave, 8 Single-dotted Waves, 11 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Yellow Shell, 2 Barred Straws, 2 Barred Yellows, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, 4 Peppered Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, 4 Clouded Silvers, Privet Hawkmoth, 5 Elephant Hawkmoths, Iron Prominent, 2 Rosy Footmen, Orange Footman, 4 Common Footmen, 8 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, 4 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, 4 Smoky Wainscots, Poplar Grey, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, 10 Dark Arches, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors, Common Rustic, 5 Uncertains, Rustic, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, 8 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Caddisflies included Glyphotaelius pellucidus, a common species but one that's not meant to fly in July.  Also 2 probable Hydropsyche siltalai, Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus lunatus and Athripsodes aterrimus.

A hoverfly proved to be my first Parasyrphus punctulatus.

Parasyrphus punctulatus, North Elmham, 10th July