Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 8: Chestnuts and allies, Pale Pinion and Shoulder-knots

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis - Totals of 37 caught here between 20th September and 5th November 2019 and 24 between 18th September and 19th October 2020, my worst years yet (although the 2020 total was reduced by me being away for a few nights in early October).  Plotting my annual totals here gives me a smooth downward curve from the 84 here in 2014.  Elsewhere 79 over 7 nights in Cornwall in early October 2020 and 2 at the meadows on 8th November 2020.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 18th September 2020

Beaded Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura - Singles in the garden on 3 consecutive nights 2nd to 4th October 2019.  I caught 30 of these in 2014 but in the 5 years since then I've only caught 19 in total; 2020 was my first year without catching any at all.

Brown-spot Pinion, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Flounced Chestnut Agrochola helvola - None.  I first saw this species in 2017 and that remains the only one I've caught here.


Red-line Quaker Agrochola lota - Totals of 10 in the garden between 2nd October and 2nd November 2019 and 24 between 22nd September (my earliest ever) and 7th November 2020.  I've averaged about 11 a year here and 2020's total was my highest ever, and included my best count of 4 on 20th October.

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta - Totals of 22 in the garden between 14th October and 27th November 2019, the last being my latest ever, and 17 between 17th October and 15th November 2020.  These totals were a fair bit below the average annual total of over 35.  Singles seen at the meadows on 5 dates from 4th October 2019.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick Agrochola circellaris - None here in 2019 but 5 between 2nd and 13th November 2020.  I've had poor years before (e.g. just one in 2016) but 2019 was my first complete blank.  I've caught up to 12 here in a year, averaging at 5.  Elsewhere 9 at the meadows on 4 dates (mostly on Ivy) including 5 on 4th October 2019. 

Bricks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2020

Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa - Totals of 360 caught in my garden between 10th September and 14th October 2019 and 348 between 8th September and 20th October 2020, both over my average annual tally of 282.  Elsewhere 316 in Cornwall in the first week of October (including 92 at our Tresidder cottage on 8th October).  Incredibly, I haven't managed to find this species at the meadows yet.

Lunar Underwing, Tresidder (Cornwall), 7th October 2020

Chestnut Conistra vaccinii - My best years for this species at home with 58 up to 27th March  2019 and then 17 from 1st October to the year end, 27 up to 10th April 2020 and then 66 from 29th September to the year end (including a record 8 on 16th October).  The totals of 75 and 93 compare with an average annual total of less than 60.  At the meadows recorded on 12 nights with a total of 24.  The record at home on 29th September 2020 and 4 at the meadows the same night were my earliest autumn records ever.  So far 2021 is shaping up to be another excellent year for this species.

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd March 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020 (the second being a confirmed male)

Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula - 5 caught in the garden in the first winter period of 2019, up to 23rd February, then 4 in the autumn between 21st October and 24th November followed by one on 13th February 2020.  5 between 2nd October (my earliest ever) and 21st December 2020.  I average just under 7 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and one in Cornwall in October 2020.  I find some Conistra quite difficult to be certain about and so dissect a few of the trickier individuals to confirm - the results suggest I'm being over-cautious as my suspected ID nearly always proves right, but I do occasionally get it wrong and sometimes think these are over-simplified, especially with worn examples.

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 22nd February 2019

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 13th February 2020

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 2nd October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 21st December 2020

Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea - None at home in either year.  This species has very recently colonised Norfolk and is still spreading - I caught my first here in 2016 and a second in 2018.  Elsewhere one at Cranwich Heath on 14th March 2020.

Dotted Chestnut, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea - None.  This is a scarce species and I've never seen one, but it's pretty widespread so I remain optimistic that one will land in my trap sometime.


Pale Pinion Lithophane socia - Singles in my garden on 26th March 2019 (my earliest ever record) and 1st April 2020.  The 2019 individual had one wing very much shorter than the other.  This species isn't quite annual here though I average one a year.

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 26th March 2019

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 1st April 2020

Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus - singles caught in my garden on 17th October and 4th November 2019 and 18th October 2020.  1-2 a year is normal though numbers have varied from 0 to 4.

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 17th October 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 4th November 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Blair's Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri - One trapped in the garden on 28th October 2019.  This recent colonist seemed to be going from strength to strength at the time I moved here and I caught 22 in my first autumn (2014).  Since then it slumped - I caught 4 in each of the next 2 years, 3 in 2017 and none in 2018 or 2020.  A temporary dip, as in the usual peak-and-trough cycle of insect populations, or a long-term trend signalling the end of a temporary colonisation?  Time will tell, but I suspect the former.

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 28th October 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

A rush of new autumnal moths for the year

A relatively good night on 27th September produced no less than four new macro moths for the year: Feathered Thorn, Black Rustic, Brick and Red-line Quaker.

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 27th September

Black Rustic, North Elmham, 27th September

Brick, North Elmham, 27th September

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 27th September

Other moths that night were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 22 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 19 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Snouts.

There was a selection of caddisflies: Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 3 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 3 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus sparsus. There was also the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and 2 beetles Aphodius rufipes.  On the ground by the trap were another two beetles, Nebria brevicollis, and a Common Frog.

Well that little burst of activity was short-lived and it was back to normal the following night with just 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 12 Lunar Underwings and Sallow - oh, and a Common Earwig.

Just a Shuttle-shaped Dart and 18 Lunar Underwings on 29th.

It was a bit better again on 30th with Pine Carpet being the best moth.  It seems like these are getting commoner, or perhaps I was just a bit unlucky with them when I started mothing?  The other moths were Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Red-line Quaker, 3 Beaded Chestnuts, 23 Lunar Underwings and Sallow.

Pine Carpet, North Elmham, 30th September

There was a noteworthy caddisfly too, my first Limnephilus decipiens of the year.  The only other caddis were 3 Limnephilus lunatus.

Limnephilus decipiens, North Elmham, 30th September

Next day I headed down to Cornwall for a few days - more about that shortly...

A few new moths for the year, a new leafhopper & a new caddis

The night of Tuesday 26th September delivered 3 new moths for the year: Turnip Moth, Red-line Quaker and Beaded Chestnut.

Turnip Moth, North Elmham, 26th September

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 26th September

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 26th September

Also recorded that night were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion, 15 Lunar Underwings, 2 Frosted Oranges, Snout, 9 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies) and Aphodius rufipes (beetle).

The following day I was birding in the Brancaster area and saw 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophilia fabriciana east of Brancaster, at least 20 Red Admirals and a Comma along Broad Lane and 2 Small Coppers on the golf course.  I also found a pale yellow leafhopper on the golf-course which I subsequently identified as Edwardsiana rosae, a new one for me.

Comma, Brancaster, 27th September

Edwardsiana rosae (male, gen det), Brancaster, 27th September

That night Ashy Button Acleris sparsana and Green-brindled Crescent were new for the year.

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham, 27th September

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 27th September

Other moths were 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 3 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis (a record count!), Blood-vein, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Dusky Thorns, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, White-point, 5 Black Rustics, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 5 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, 2 Sallows, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass and 5 Snouts.

There lots of lacewings and caddisflies.  Predictably at this time of year most of the caddisflies were Chrysoperla carnea (10 confirmed males plus a couple of unconfirmed females) but there was also a late Dichochrysa flavifrons among them.  I recorded this species well into September last year but this year although I had lots (53) over the summer this was my first since 2nd August.  The caddisflies were 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 8 Limnephilus auricula, 4 Limnephilus flavicornis, 2 Limnephilus marmoratus and 2 Limnephilus vittatus.

Other insects included another Pantilius tunicatus (bug), a Kybos sp. (leafhopper; probably betulicola but female smaragdula is indistinguishable) and an Aphodius rufipes (beetle).

Pantilius tunicatus, North Elmham, 27th September

The following night the moths were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Blood-vein, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Feathered Thorns, Willow Beauty, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, Red-line Quaker, 4 Lunar Underwings and Frosted Orange.

The caddisflies were better, including one new for the year, Halesus radiatus, and one that was completely new to me, Limnophelus ignavus.  The others were 2 Mottled Sedges Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 3 Limnephilus affinis, 2 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus lunatus.

Halesus radiatus (male), North Elmham, 28th September

Limnephilus ignavus (male), North Elmham, 28th September

No bugs or lacewings that night and Aphodius rufipes was the only beetle.

Next day this Brick was the only addition to the year list:

Brick, North Elmham, 29th September

There wasn't so much else that night: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Blood-vein, 2 Mallows, Black Rustic, Lunar Underwing, Pink-barred Sallow, Straw Dot and the caddisflies Limnephilus flavicornis and 5 Limnephilus lunatus.

On the final night in September I caught 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, a late Small Fan-footed Wave, Feathered Thorn, Willow Beauty, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Sallow, Straw Dot, Snout, the caddisflies Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Grammotaulius nigropunctatus and 7 Limnephilus lunatus and the beetle Aphodius rufipes.

Small Fan-footed Wave, North Elmham, 30th September

October kicked of with Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Black Rustics, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 2 Straw Dots, Snout, 1-2 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings) and Limnephilus affinis, 2 Limnephilus auricula, 4 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus vittatus (caddisflies).

Convolvulus Hawkmoth!

The biggest surprise on 1st October was Mottled Umber - a very early date for this species, 3.5 weeks earlier than my previous earliest.

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 1st October

Also new for the year was this Yellow-line Quaker.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 1st October

Not much else - the season really is coming to a close - just Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, Beaded Chestnut, 6 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Rosy Rustics.

I haven't been doing caddisflies lately as I've had such a big backlog with moths, but I retained one from this catch as it was obviously different from any I'd caught here this year.  It proved to be Halesus radiatus, actually one of the few distinctive caddisflies I'd identified from photos prior to owning the caddisfly key (not from here though, so this was new for the house).

Halesus radiatus, North Elmham, 1st October

Next day we wre down to 11 moths of 7 species, but these included one of my favourites, Green-brindled Crescent new for the year.

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 2nd October

The others were Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Black Rustic, Beaded Chestnut, 5 Lunar Underwings and Rosy Rustic.

A lunchtime stroll round Thornham produced Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana on 3rd, along with Southern Hawker and Common Darters.  That night's moths were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Grey Pine Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, 6 Beaded Chestnuts, 5 Lunar Underwings, Rosy Rustic and Snout.

There was a bit more on 4th: 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Fan-footed Wave, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Black Rustics, Yellow-line Quaker, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, 11 Lunar Underwings, 3 Barred Sallows, Pink-barred Sallow, 2 Sallows, 2 Rosy Rustics and Snout.

Sallow, North Elmham, 4th October

Plenty of Red Admirals around when I was out and about around this time...

Red Admirals, Stiffkey, 5th October

That night's moths included the first Chestnut of the autumn and 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 5 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, Brown-spot Pinion, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 3 Lunar Underwings, 3 Pink-barred Sallows, Sallow and Angle Shades.

It's been a good autumn for Convolvulus Hawkmoth and I've been bombarded with messages and photos of these amazing beasts that people have been seeing.  Some people haven't just had one or two, they've had loads of them.  But I have not.  I have not seen one.  Not one.  Indeed, I have never seen one.  Right up to 6th October.

Then the next morning as I was going through the moth trap I looked in and saw this big grey head peering out from beneath one of the eggboxes...

Surely... gotta be... hasn't it?  I carefully lifted the eggbox out and turned it over... YES!!  At last!  A Convolvulus Hawkmoth!  And not only that but a fresh one!

Convolvulus Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 6th October

I know they're not all that rare - certainly not as rare as a lot of other moths I've recorded this year, but I reckon this was probably my most exciting moth moment this year - such a badly wanted and long-awaited moth and an absolute BEAST.

Nothing else mattered much but Red-line Quaker was new for the year and Beautiful Hook-tip was an unusual second-generation record.   Also 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Black Rustics, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow and Snout.

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 6th October

Also 5 Wasps, of which at least 2 were Common Wasps.

Feathered Thorn and Blair's Shoulder-knot were new for the year on 7th.  Other moths were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Black Rustics, 2 Merveille du Jours, Chestnut, 7 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Lunar Underwings, 2 Barred Sallows, Pink-barred Sallow, 3 Sallows and Snout.

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 7th October

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 7th October

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 7th October

The following night produced 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Feathered Thorn, Black Rustic, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Green-brindled Crescent, Chestnut, 5 Beaded Chestnuts, 7 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and Sallow.

Not so many moths the next night: 2 Black Rustics, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Green-brindled Crescent, Merveille du Jour and Lunar Underwing. Even fewer on 10th - Green-brindled Crescent, Satellite and Beaded Chestnut.  The 11th wasn't much better with Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Green-brindled Crescents and Lunar Underwing.  Another Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea was at Burnham Overy Dunes on 12th and that night at home produced just 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Lunar Underwing and Barred Sallow.

Things improved a bit on 13th with 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Red-green Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Black Rustics, Red-line Quaker, Lunar Underwing, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow and Angle Shades.

Epirrita season kicked off on 14th with the first new moth for the year in a week: 4 November Moths.  Also Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Feathered Thorn, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Black Rustic, 6 Green-brindled Crescents, Satellite, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing and Sallow.

November Moth (male, 8th sternite checked), North Elmham, 14th October

No more Epirrita for a few days though,  15th produced 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Feathered Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing, Black Rustic, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Lunar Underwing and 2 Barred Sallows. On 16th 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Red-green Carpet, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker, Lunar Underwing and Barred Sallow. Just 4 moths on 17th: Green-brindled Crescent, 2 Yellow-line Quakers and Lunar Underwing; and only slightly better on 18th: Black Rustic, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut and Lunar Underwing. 

Things picked up again on 19th with a return of Epirritas - 6 November Moths.  Also Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Green-brindled Crescents and Pink-barred Sallow. Also 2 Pinalitus cervinus, the first time I recorded this mirid bug this year.