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.

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

Over-run with Garden Grass-veneers and Uncertains

Seems I forgot to post this pic of the Archer's Dart in yesterday's post about our Winterton trip.  A decent enough moth to be worth rectifying that oversight.

Archer's Dart, Winterton, 11th July

Winterton didn't have the monopoly of good moths that evening - at home I recorded a monster 580 moths of 117 species.  Lots were new for the year for the garden, including several species we had recorded at Winterton during the evening: Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Brown-tail and Dingy Shears.

 Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, North Elmham, 11th July

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 11th July

Dingy Sheers, North Elmham, 11th July

Other new moths for the year were White-backed Marble Hedya salicella, 7 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, 3 Leopard Moths, July Highflyer, Wormwood Pug, Pine Hawkmoth, Buff Footman, Sycamore, Dun-bar and Blackneck.

Blackneck, North Elmham, 11th July

Leopard Moths, North Elmham, 11th July

Pine Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 11th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 11th July

The numbers were swelled by 120 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteucha culmella.  The other micros were 7 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, 2 Grey Rush Case-bearers Coleophora glaucicolella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Burdock Nebs Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 3 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 13 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 4 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla. 

Elder Pearl Anania coronata, North Elmham, 11th July

Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, North Elmham, 11th July

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Some good lookers among the macros, like 2 Buff Arches, Large Emerald, Phoenix, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Peppered Moths, Poplar Hawkmoth, an impressive 11 Elephant Hawkmoths, 3 Lesser Swallow Prominents, 5 Buff-tips, 13 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dot Moths, Cream-bordered Green Pea and 6 Burnished Brasses.

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 11th July

Phoenix, North Elmham, 11th July

With the macros it was 65 Uncertains that boosted the numbers.  Gen detting got me all three of the Marbled Minor aggs: 3 Marbled Minors, Rufous Minor and Tawny Marbled Minor, as well as Grey Dagger and Common Rustic.

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

The rest of the macros were 3 Common Emeralds, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Dwarf Cream Waves, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 13 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 7 Barred Straws, 8 Green Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 4 Willow Beauties, 4 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, 3 Common White Waves, 9 Clouded Silvers, 3 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 27 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Short-cloaked Moth, Heart and Club, 4 Heart and Darts, 10 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Ingrailed Clays, 24 Double Square-spots, 8 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 6 Clays, 9 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, 10 Dark Arches, Light Arches, 3 Rustics, 4 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 4 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 8 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

It was getting dark by the time I finished sorting through the trap and with an overwhelming number of moths in pots awaiting attention I decided to give it a break the following night.  Hate to think what I missed as the weather was still good, but there just aren't enough hours in the day and night to do everything!