Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 7: Marbles I (Eudemis to Lobesia))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana - Singles in the garden on 23rd July 2019 and 25th July 2020 were my first here since 2016 (one before that in 2015).  Also one at the meadows on 4th August 2019.  For what is quite a variable species the 2 in 2019 were surprisingly similar in appearance.

Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Willow Marble Apotomis lineana - None.  I haven't recorded this species locally yet but I can't see any reason why it shouldn't occur in this part of the Wensum Valley.


White-shouldered Marble Apotomis turbidana - None.  I've not recorded this species in North Elmham yet but it must be on the cards.


Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana - Singles in the garden trap on 19th and 24th July and 12th August 2019 and on 7 dates between 1st and 29th Augsut 2020.  I don't get this species (or genus) here every year, and 7 was the most I've ever had.  Also one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.  I suspect that in the past I may have misidentified some betuletana with a strong hook-shaped white indentation into the darker base as capreana as I have come to realise in the last 2-3 years that this feature is more variable than I had once appreciated.  Differences in genitalia aren't all that obvious to me either, so it's not inconceivable that I've gone wrong even after examining them under the microscope, though I think I have a better understanding of the differences now.

male Birch Marble Apotoomis betuletana, North Elmham, 19th July 2019

Birch Marble Apotoomis betuletana, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

male Birch Marble Apotoomis betuletana, North Elmham, 12th August 2019

Birch Marble Apotoomis betuletana, Bintree Wood, 24th July 2020

Sallow Marble Apotomis capreana - One in the garden trap on 1st July 2020 was my first here since 2 in 2016.

Sallow Marble Apotoomis capreana, North Elmham, 1st July 2020

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana - None.  I had 6 of these in my garden in my first full year here (2015) followed by singles in each of the next 3 years, so 2019 and 2020 were my first full years without any.


White-backed Marble Hedya salicella - One in the garden moth trap on 8th July 2020 was only my second here and the first for 5 years.  Also one at Laura's in Hellesdon on 4th July 2019 and one at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

White-backed Marble Hedya salicella, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana - Totals of 18 in the garden between 17th June and 18th July 2019 and 16 between 11th June and 17th July 2020.  These were my worst year here to date - not far behind the previous couple of years but a long way short of the 57 in 2015.  Also 3 at the meadows.

Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana - Totals of 12 in the garden between 22nd June and 16th July 2019 and 8 between 22nd May and 25th June 2020.  As with the last species these were my worst years here, past annual totals peaking at 23 in 2016.  Elsewhere 7 at the meadows and 2 at Weybourne.

Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020

Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana - One at the meadows on 30th June 2019 and one in the garden trap on 4th July.  The latter was my third here but first since 2016, so all the more surprising to catch 3 here in 2020, on 20th and 24th June and 4th July.

Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, North Elmham, 20th June 2020

female Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, North Elmham, 4th July 2020

Shoulder-spot Marble Hedya atropunctata - None.  I've never seen this species but there's a scattering of records around the county so it might turn up locally.


Barred Marble Celypha striana - At least 133 recorded at home between 18th June and 22nd August (not counted every night).  That's above average, but over 100 is normal.  A record year in 2020 with 182 between 26th May and 27th August including a record count of 11 on 16th June.  Also recorded next door, at the meadows (7), at Weybourne and at Hellesdon.

Barred Marble Celypha striana, North Elmham, 29th May 2020

Roseate Marble Celypha rosaceana - None.  I've not recorded this species locally yet, but imagine (hope) I will do sooner or later.


Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana - None.  I've caught this species at home twice, in 2015 and 2016.


Common Marble Celypha lacunana - At least 250 in the garden between 23rd May and 12th September (probably more as they weren't counted every night).  Since 2015 I've averaged over 300 a year here so this wasn't a particularly good year.  Only 245 here in 2020, between 19th May and 17th September - my worst year here to date.  Elsewhere 76 recorded at the meadows and others at Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street, Weybourne, Hellesdon, Hills and Holes, Row Heath (West Runton), Burnham Overy and on Mull.

Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th May 2019

dark variant of Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana - Singles in the garden trap on 23rd and 29th June 2019.  1-2 a year is typical but I had 9 in each of 2016 and 2017.  Also 2 at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  None in 2020, my first blank year since moving here.

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, North Elmham, 23rd June 2019

Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana - One at the meadows on 18th July 2020.  My last 3 examples of this species were at the meadows but previously I've had 6 here at home.

Smoky-barred Marble Lobesia abscisana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Oak Marble Lobesia reliquana - None.  I've not recorded this species in North Elmham yet but should imagine I must be in with a good chance, at the meadows if not in the garden.  I've seen it reasonably close, at Bawdeswell Heath.


Next page: more Tortricidae

Thatch Neb and Satyr Pug

The night of 18th June was another good one with 13 new moths for the year including a couple of good ones.  The latter were Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (all Norfolk records up to this point were from my garden, though I see Dave Jones had one in Stoke Holy Cross in August) and Satyr Pug.

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 18th June

Satyr Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th June

The other new moths for the year were Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, 3 Common Emeralds, Barred Straw, Small Yellow Wave, Double Square-spot and Beautiful Hook-tip.

Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, North Elmham, 18th June

Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, North Elmham, 18th June

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 18th June - complete with a tick hanging off the side of its face!

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, North Elmham, 18th June

Small Yellow Wave, North Elmham, 18th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 18th June

The rest of the moths brought the total species count to 76 - actually not all that remarkable for the second half of June but probably the best here this year.  The others were Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 4 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Brindled Tortrix Ptycholoma lecheana, Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, 8 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 17 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Barred Yellow, 2 Green Carpets, Common Pug, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, Tawny-barred Angle, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, 9 Clouded Silvers, 3 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, 3 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, 5 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 4 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Marbled Minor, 2 Tawny Marbled Minors, 6 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, 2 Uncertains, 3 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, 38 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and Fan-foot.

It must have been a good night for ticks with the one hanging off the face of the Clepsis spectrana above and this one hanging off the face of a Elachista canapella.  No idea if ticks on moths are host-specific - I guess not but if they are then they're probably quite rare.

Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella and tick, North Elmham, 18th June

The only lacewing was Dichochrysa prasina, new for the year, and there was also just one mayfly, a Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.

Dichochrysa prasina, North Elmham, 18th June

Other insects included the caddisflies Agraylea multipunctata (new for the year), Limnephilus lunatus, Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the mirid bugs Orthotylus tenellus (2), Psallus perrisi and Psallus varians, the leafhopper Oncopsis subangulata, the soldier beetles Cantharis cryptica and Cantharis decipiens and a new weevil for the garden, Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus.

Agraylea multipunctata (female), North Elmham, 18th June

Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus, North Elmham, 18th June

Spongefly

The highlight from my garden moth trap on 10th June was my first Spongefly, a group of lacewings represented by one species in Norfolk, Sisyra fuscata.  Compared to the brown lacewings (at least the ones I'm familiar with) it was small and dark, but sadly it was on its last legs (although that hadn't been apparent) and died before I managed to get any photos of it.  Not only that but it had covered itself in moth scales left in the pot I used so the photo really is bad!

Sisyra fuscata (dead), North Elmham, 10th June

A number of moths were new for the year: Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Little Grass-veneers Platytes cerussella, Wormwood Pug, Dingy Footman and Fan-foot.

Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th June

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 10th June

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, North Elmham, 10th June

Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, North Elmham, 10th June

Little Grsas-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 10th June

Fan-foot, North Elmham, 10th June

Also of note were 2 Hawthorn Bent-wings Bucculatrix bechsteinella - my third and fourth here this year but a species I'd not recorded here at all in previous years.

Hawthorn Bent-wing Bucculatrix bechsteinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th June

Other moths were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 4 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 5 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Common Swift, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Sandy Carpet, 3 Common Pugs, 2 Green Pugs, Brown Silver-line, Scorched Wing, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, 3 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 White Ermines, Buff Ermine, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, 4 Ingrailed Clays, Shears, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Small Clouded Brindle, Tawny Marbled Minor (also another Marbled Minor agg. that escaped), 6 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, 3 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, Spectacle, 20 Straw Dots, 5 Snouts and 4 Small Fan-foots.

Caddisflies were represented by 2 Ecnomus tenellus (new for the year), Goera pilosa and Mystacides longicornis.

Ecnomus tenellus, North Elmham, 10th June

Goera pilosa, North Elmham, 10th June

Birch Shieldbug, Fly Bug Reduvius personatus (sometimes known as Masked Hunter) and 7-spot Ladybird were all apparently new for the year though I've a feeling I've had the ladybird before and forgotten to record it.

Birch Shieldbug, North Elmham, 10th June

Next day I found 2 Case-bearing Clothes Moths Tinea pellionella in the house, a new species for the year here.

Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th June

Gypsy Lane, Brancaster

Dave and I headed up to Gypsy Lane, Brancaster for some moths on the night of 16th July.  We didn't manage to find any new moths for me, although may have come close as we were buzzed by something that may well have been a Lappet.  Frustratingly it didn't stop.  Still a good evening with several noteworthy species seen.  Among the highlights were 2 Saltmarsh Case-bearers Coleophora atriplicis, White-strap Sober Syncopacma larseniella (a species I'd seen for the first time only a week earlier), Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, 2 Hemlock Yellow Conches Aethes beatricella, Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, 3 Acorn Piercers Pammene fasciana, Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Striped Wainscot, 2 Southern Wainscots, Lyme Grass, Fen Wainscot, 2 Cream-bordered Green Peas and Dotted Fan-foot.

Acorn Piercer Pammene fasciana, Brancaster, 16th July

 Lyme Grass, Brancaster, 16th July

White-strap Sober Syncopacma larseniella, Brancaster, 16th July

Saltmarsh Case-bearer Coleophora atriplicis, Brancaster, 16th July

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Brancaster, 16th July

Hemlock Yellow Conch Aethes beatricella, Brancaster, 16th July

Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, Brancaster, 16th July

This Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana was living up to its vernacular name more than usual - it lacked the pale shoulders that are normally a determining feature of this species.

 Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Other micros were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 6 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 4 Saltern Groundlings Scrobipalpa instabilella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 4 Bulrush Cosmets Limnaecia phragmitella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, 3 Water-mint Conches Phalonidia manniana, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Pine Marbles Piniphila bifasciana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Buff-tipped Marble Hedya ochroleucana, White-backed Marble Hedya salicella, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, 4 Cock's-head Bells Zeiraphera isertana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 White-foot Bells Epiblema foenella, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Wainscot Veneers Chilo phragmitella, 20 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Base-lined Greys Scoparia basistrigalis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis and 2 Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella.

Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Brancaster, 16th July

Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana, Brancaster, 16th July

Water-mint Conch Phalonidia manniana (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Cock's-head Bells Zeiraphera isertana, Brancaster, 16th July

Saltern Groundling Scrobipalpa instabilella (female, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Other macros were Ghost Moth, 5 Drinkers, 5 Buff Arches, Common Emerald, Single-dotted Wave, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, V-Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, Latticed Heath, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 6 Swallow-tailed Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, 2 Mottled Beauties, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, 2 Poplar Hawkmoths, Elephant Hawkmoth, 40 Brown-tails, 2 Yellow-tails, White Satin, 2 Round-winged Muslins, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 3 Scarce Footmen, Common Footman, Ruby Tiger, Flame, Flame Shoulder, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Clay, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Poplar Greys, Small Angle Shades, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Light Arches, Marbled Minor, 2 Rufous Minors, Tawny Marbled Minor, Uncertain, Plain Golden Y, Beautiful Hook-tip and Fan-foot.

Drinker (female), Brancaster, 16th July

Rufous Minors (females, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), Brancaster, 16th July

With no lifers among the moths perhaps the best observation was a hoverfly - my first Volucella inflata (although I've spent a lot less effort recording hoverflies than moths so it's much easier to find lifers among them).  This is a southern species that only extends up as far as Lincolnshire.

Volucella inflata, Brancaster, 16th July

Other non-Lepidopteran interest included a 10-spot Ladybird and both Cockchafer and Summer Chafer (and a Hobby).

10-spot Ladybird, Brancaster, 16th July