Lilac Beauty, Green Silver-lines and other nice things

Lilac Beauty is always a favourite and one on 25th June was my first of the year.  Single-dotted Wave and Rufous Minor (a gen det job) were also added to the year list that night.

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 25th June

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th June

Other moths that night were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Buff Arches, 3 Treble Brown Spots, Silver-ground Carpet, Purple Bar, Foxglove Pug, Clouded Border, 3 Scorched Wings, 3 Brimstone Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, 6 Willow Beauties, 2 Common White Waves, Eyed Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, 6 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 13 Buff Ermines, 5 Cinnabars, Heart and Club, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, 7 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Treble Lines, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass and 2 Spectacles.

Heart and Club, North Elmham, 25th June

Uncertain, North Elmham, 25th June

And if Lilac is a favourite then Green Silver-lines is even more so, and that was one of the new moths for the garden year list the following night, along with Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, 2 Barred Straws and Rivulet.

Green Silver-lines, North Elmham, 26th June

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 26th June

Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, North Elmham, 26th June

I found a Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella in the house while others that made it to the moth trap were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 4 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Common Swift, Buff Arches, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Green Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, 3 Peppered Moths, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, 2 Swallow Prominents, Buff-tip, 2 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 2 Brown Rustics, 4 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Rufous Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, another Marbled Minor agg. that escaped the knife, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, 4 Straw Dots, 6 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 26th June

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Caddisflies included Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Limnephilus rhombicus and Mystacides longicornis.

Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham, 26th June

Common Emerald was the only new moth for the year in the garden on 27th, the rest being Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, 3 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis cerasana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Ghost Moth, Common Swift, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, Mottled Pug, Common Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, 2 Peppered Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawkmoth, Eyed Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Buff-tip, 2 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 11 Buff Ermines, 5 Cinnabars, Heart and Club, 6 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Brown Rustic, Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, 2 Uncertains, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Straw Dot and 3 Snouts.

Elder Pearl Anania coronata, North Elmham, 27th June

Eyed Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 27th June

Dark Arches, North Elmham, 27th June

Lots of moths and a rare spider

Getting behind again as the peak moth season leaves me with far more to process than I have time to process.  I'm sure I'll catch up eventually, but I have a study full of material waiting to be examined and it isn't going to be quick!

Next up is 23rd June - over 200 moths of 72 species isn't bad I suppose, but not fantastic for this time of year. Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella was new for the house while Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Privet Hawkmoth and Rosy Footman were new for the year here.

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 23rd June

Broad-blotch Drill Dichrorampha alpinana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd June

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 23rd June

The others were 2 Cypress Tip Moths Argyresthia cupressella, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Light Grey Torrixes Cnephasia incertana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 13 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 5 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 7 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Common Swift, Pebble Hook-tip, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Scorched Wings, 2 Peppered Moths, 5 Willow Beauties, 2 Mottled Beauties, Pale Oak Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, 2 Common Waves, 4 Clouded Silvers, 2 Light Emeralds, Elephant Hawkmoth, Pale Prominent, 2 Buff-tips, 3 Common Footmen, 5 White Ermines, 10 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Flame, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, 8 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Dusky Brocade, 6 Middle-barred Minors, 2 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 10 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip, 33 Straw Dots, 3 Snouts and Fan-foot.

Dusky Brocade, North Elmham, 23rd June

Other insects included the Mayfly Cloeon Dipterum, the Caddisfly Hydropsyche pellucidula (3 in fact) and a Cockchafer.

Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 23rd June

Next day was poorer with far fewer moths and only 47 species.  Among those Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Double Square-spot and Clay were new for the year.

Clay, North Elmham, 24th June

Double Square-spot, North Elmham, 24th June

Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

There was a good count of 22 Buff Ermines, but that's still a little way off my peak count last year.  The others were Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Common Swift, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Eyed Hawkmoth, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, 3 Cinnabars, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Common Wainscot, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, Uncertain, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles, 8 Straw Dots, Snout and Small Fan-foot.

Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, North Elmham, 24th June

Marbled Minor (female, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 24th June

The only caddisflies identified were Hydropsyche pellucidula and Phryganea grandis.

Phryganea grandis, North Elmham, 24th June

Andy B likes his spiders and a little while ago after showing some to me at Burnham Overy he texted to say he'd found a really rare one.  Well on 25th June I returned to Burnham Overy and found Andy standing with another chap who was lying flat on his belly in the saltmarsh photographing something.  I wandered over and Andy showed me the rare spider he'd found - this one being an egg-sac carrying female: Yellow-striped Bear Spider Arctosa flavolineata.

Yellow-striped Bear Spider Arctosa flavolineata, Burnham Overy, 25th June

A Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella and 4 Cinnabars were the only moths seen but a Bee turned out to be a Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee, which from the range map in the new Bees book looks like is restricted to the NW coast in Norfolk, although the NBN Gateway shows it as being recorded fare more widespreadly in the county.  Not sure the reason for the discrepancy.

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris, Burnham Overy, 25th June

A single Pyramidal Orchid as nice to see.

Catching up from 2-3 weeks ago

I've a lot of catching up to do... too many moths and not enough time to process them all!

Anyway, going back now to Sunday 21st June.  Just 2 new for the year: Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana and Common Carpet.

Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, North Elmham, 21st June

Other stuff that night were Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Ghost Moth, Riband Wave, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Privet Hawkmoth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, 2 Orange Footmen, 2 Common Footmen, White Ermine, 8 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 5 Heart and Darts, 3 Ingrailed Clays, Small Square-spot, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 2 Marbled Minors (gen det), Middle-barred Minor, 2 Treble Lines, 2 Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Ghost Moth, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Swallow Prominent, North Elmham, 21st June

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 21st June

Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, North Elmham, 21st June

Next day I found a Pale Tussock at work, while home produced a relatively meagre catch of 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, Ghost Moth, 2 Common Swifts, Silver-ground Carpet, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Common Footman, 5 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Treble Lines and Burnished Brass.  Also this beetle; I think it's Malthinus flaveolus but there are similar species.

probable Malthinus flaveolus, North Elmham, 22nd June

Poor weather ensured a very poor catch on Tuesday night: Barred Marble Celypha striana, Treble Brown Spot, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Large Yellow Underwing and Ingrailed Clay.

Things improved on Wednesday night, the best of 63 species being a Four-dotted Footman.

Four-dotted Footman, North Elmham, 24th June

Also new for the year were Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, Clay and 2 Beautiful Hook-tips.

Dwarf Cream Wave, North Elmham, 24th June

Beautiful Hook-tip, North Elmham, 24th June

Clay, North Elmham, 24th June

Also that night were Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella (gen det), Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (gen det), 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (gen det), 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Plum Tortrices Hedya pruniana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 4 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, 6 Common Pugs, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 3 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock, 5 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 8 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 3 Heart and Clubs, 4 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, 3 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Small Square-spots, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, 3 Uncertains, 9 Straw Dots and Snout. 

 Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 24th June

Ligjt Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella, North Elmham, 24th June

Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 24th June

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 24th June

Bird's Wing

With 44 moths of 26 species, Thursday night wasn't a hugely busy one.  But among those were some goodies including two lifers for me, the spectacular Bird's Wing and the not-quite-so-spectacular Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima.

Bird's Wing, North Elmham, 11th June

Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th June

Even more spectacular were Privet Hawkmoth and Eyed Hawkmoth, both new for the year.

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 11th June

Eyed Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 11th June

Clouded Border was also new for the year.

Clouded Border, North Elmham, 11th June

Other moths were 4 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, 2 Common Pugs, Brimstone Moth, Mottled Beauty, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Pale Tussocks, Common Footman, 2 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Darts, Ingrailed Clay, Small Square-spot, 2 Shears, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 5 Brown Rustics, 4 Treble Lines and Mottled Rustic.