Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Slenders and Midgets (Gracillariidae) (part 5: Phyllonorycter II)

SLENDERS and MIDGETS (GRACILLARIIDAE) (continued)


Sloe Midget Phyllonorycter spinicolella - None in 2019 but I caught 3 in my garden moth trap between 30th July and 20th August 2020, doubling the number I've recorded here (the others all being in 2017-18).  Also one potted from a hedge at the meadows on 3rd August 2020.

female Sloe Midget Phyllonorycter spinicolella, North Elmham, 30th July 2020

female Sloe Midget Phyllonorycter spinicolella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2020

male Sloe Midget Phyllonorycter spinicolella, North Elmham, 20th August 2020

Cherry Midget Phyllonorycter cerasicolella - A male at Laura's in Hellesdon on 14th July 2019 and a leaf-mine at the meadows on 20th June 2020.  None at home but I've had 2 here before, both in 2017.

male Cherry Midget Phyllonorycter cerasicolella, Hellesdon, 14th July 2019

leaf-mine of Cherry Midget Phyllonorycter cerasicolella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th June 2020

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella - One in my garden trap on 25th July 2019.  They're not regular here - singles in 2016 and 2017 are my only other records.  Also 2 netted at the meadows on 13th July 2020 and one to light there on 7th August.  Leaf-mines found at the meadows in October 2019 and September 2020.

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

leaf-mine of Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th October 2019

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

leaf-mine of Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th September 2020

Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella - Singles at home on 12th and 28th September 2019 and on 4 dates between 12th June and 22nd September 2020.  This species is annual here but never numerous - the 4 in 2020 was my highest total so far.

Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 12th September 2019

male Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 12th June 2020

female Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 22nd August 2020

Willow Midget Phyllonorycter viminiella - I did 3 nights' trapping in my next-door neighbour's garden in 2019 primarily in order to show their visiting grandchildren some moths, which they seem to enjoy.  It's amazing how different the moths are here, just a few yards away from my own garden trapping site.  The previous time I even managed a moth that I've never seen here (or anywhere else), Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii and this time I did it again with my first adult Phyllonorycter viminiella, on 7th August.  In 2020 I finally added it to my own garden list with one caught on 31st July.

male Willow Midget Phyllonorycter viminiella, North Elmham, 7th August 2019

male Willow Midget Phyllonorycter viminiella, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella - One in the garden trap on 31st July 2019.  The genitalia were checked but females are tricky even so.  I'm not completely sure the genitalia eliminated hilarella, but supported by external features (e.g. shape of the basal streak, the absence of white at the rear of the vertex) I think the ID is safe.  I've had 3 here before but they're not annual and none found in 2020.

female Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, North Elmham, 31st July 2019

Sallow Midget Phyllonorycter hilarella - None.  I've never seen this species and there aren't all that many records in the county but there's no reason why it shouldn't occur locally.  The same could be perhaps be said for the even scarcer Southern Midget Phyllonorycter dubitella.


Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella - I think this is the commonest Phyllonorycter in my garden, not very surprisingly since there's a Beech hedge just next to where I trap.  8 in my garden trap between 30th June and 17th August 2019 and 27 between 18th May and 23rd August 2020.  That's my highest annual total, although not far ahead of 24 in 2018.  Also singles at the meadows on 21st April 2019 and 27th April 2020, and mines here in October 2019 and May and September 2020.

female Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st April 2019

leaf-mine of Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 9th October 2019

male Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th April 2020

male Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th June 2020

male Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 10th July 2020

male Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th July 2020

male Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd July 2020

Nut-leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli - Caught in the garden moth trap on 30th July and 4th August 2020.  Given that next-door's Hazel tree overhangs my garden I would expect to catch more of these than I do but these were my first since 2017.  2 netted in the Millennium Wood in North Elmham on 6th May 2019.  Also occupied mines at the meadows and at Swanton Novers in 2019.

male Nut-leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, Millennium Wood, North Elmham, 6th May 2019

male Nut-leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, North Elmham, 30th July 2020

female Nut-leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Next page: more Gracillariidae

Spindle Knot-horn

I ran a light in the meadows for a while on the evening of 12th August and caught a few moths.  The most unexpected moth was Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella, only the second time I have seen this species.  I've not located any Spindle here so not sure where it came from.

Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Other highlights included 2 New Oak Slenders Caloptilia robustella, Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis, Wax Moth Galleria mellonella and Cream-bordered Green Pea.

New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorcyter corylifoliella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Cream-bordered Green Pea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

The other moths were Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, 3 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, Ash-bud Moth Prays fraxinella, Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 3 Knapweed Conches Agapeta zoegana, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, 3 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis corylana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 50 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 8 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 2 Oak Hook-tips, Blood-vein, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Purple Bar, Lime-speck Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Dusky Thorns, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawk-moth, Swallow Prominent, Black Arches, Dingy Footman, 3 Turnip Moths, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Six-striped Rustics, 3 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, 2 Cloaked Minors, Rosy Rustic, 2 Vine's Rustics, Silver Y and Straw Dot.

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Straw Underwing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

This sub-imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum later moulted into its imago stage:

Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August - the same mayfly in both photos taken a day or two apart before and after its moult

Lacewings included Chrysopa commata, Chrysoperla carnea agg. and the waxfly Coniopteryx tineiformis.  A good selection of caddisflies were recorded including Hydroptila sparsa, Ithytrichia lamellaris, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Limnephilus rhombicus, 3 Molanna angustata, Athripsodes albifrons and Ceraclea albimacula.

Athripsodes albifrons, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Ceraclea albimacula, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Bugs included 2 Hawthorn Shieldbugs, Forest Bug, Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis, Phytocoris varipes and the leafhopper Kybos strigilifer.

Kybos strigilifer (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Beetles included Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes, probably 30 Bradycellus verbascis (2 checked properly, others probably the same), 2 Aphodius rufipes, Lagria hirta and Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium.  Also a Hydrophiliid that has so far defied my best efforts to identify it.

Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Bradycellus verbasci, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Acorn Weevil Curculio glandium, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Other insects inluded Oak Bush-cricket, the hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus and 2 German Wasps.  (Edit: I reported before that one of these had stung me.  I got mixed up - it was actually on 19th August I got stung, possibly by a Common Wasp not a German Wasp.  Not the first time something German has been blamed for something that was fairly and squarely the fault of common Brits).

Oak Bush-cricket, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Eupeodes latifasciatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August

Six new moths for the year

Having seen a probable in flight a few days earlier it was good to confirm a day-flying Magpie Moth at Ryburgh on Thursday 3rd August.  There were 2 Banded Demoiselles and a Black-tailed Skimmer here, along with Green-veined White, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma.

Small Tortoiseshell and Comma, Ryburgh, 3rd August

That night produced 6 new moths for the garden year list: Daisy Bent-wing Bucculatrix nigricomella, Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, Least Yellow Underwing, Square-spotted Clay, White-point and Marbled Beauty.

Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, North Elmham, 3rd August

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 3rd August

White-point, North Elmham, 3rd August

Marbled Beauty, North Elmham, 3rd August

The rest of the moths were 2 Carrion Moths Monopis weaverella, Sloe Midget Phyllonorycter spinicolella, 2 Red Birch Midgets Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 5 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 17 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 7 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Pebble Hook-tip, Blood-vein, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Flame Carpets, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, 2 Magpie Moths, 2 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, 2 Dingy Footmen, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 6 Flame Shoulders, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics (and another Common Rustic agg.), Rustic and 11 Straw Dots.

Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, North Elmham, 3rd August

Lacewings consisted of just Chrysoperla carnea (2 confirmed males and 3 aggregate females).  Caddisflies included Cyrnus flavidus and Hydropsyche siltalai.

Cyrnus flavidus (male), North Elmham, 3rd August

Leafhoppers included Empoasca vitis and a Kybos sp.  The last time I recorded a Kybos leafhopper I speculated that it was likely betulicola but this time armed with a bit more information I was able to narrow it down to either virgator, strigilifer or calyculus (females of these three are not identifiable to species level).

Kybos virgator, strigilifer or calcyculus (female), North Elmham, 3rd August

Beetles included my second identified Harpalus rufipes and a Nut Weevil Curculio nucum.

Harpalus rufipes, North Elmham, 3rd August

Nut Weevil Curculio nucum, North Elmham, 3rd August