Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Erebids (Erebidae) part 2: Ermines, Tigers and Footmen

EREBIDS (EREBIDAE) (continued)


Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea - Totals of 105 caught in the garden between 1st June and 2nd August 2019 and 72 between 20th May and 28th July 2020, by far my worst years here.  I caught 247 here in my previous worst year.  Elsewhere caught next door (7th August), at the meadows (3 dates), Bintree Wood (2), Hellesdon (5), Hllls and Holes, Weybourne (2) and on Mull (2).  Also a caterpillar at the meadows on 4th October 2019.

Buff Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Buff Ermine caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Buff Ermine, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Buff Ermine, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda - Totals of 28 caught in the garden between 18th May and 23rd June 2019 and 34 between 16th May and 16th June 2020.  As with the previous species these were my worst totals since moving here - my average annual tally is 60.  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood, 6 at Hills and Holes and a total of 37 on Mull.  One of the latter was found at an un-manned honesty shop at Lochbuie, during the day and deep inside a basket of cakes - clearly a moth after my own heart.

White Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

White Ermine, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

White Ermine, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

White Ermine, North Elmham, 20th May 2020

Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae - None.  In Norfolk this species is pretty much restricted to the Broads which is where the only one I've ever seen was.  However the other moth-trapper in my road caught one in 1996 and there have been a handful of other more recent records this side of the county, so there must be at least a small chance of me getting one locally.


Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica - Totals of 43 caught in the garden between 1st April and 28th May 2019 and 94 between 12th April and 24th May 2020.  The 2019 total was pretty typical but the 2020 total was a record high (and included a record count of 9 on 3rd May).  It's normally only the males that come to light and I've only caught males here.  I never managed to catch a single one at my last house in Bawdeswell - in fact I've only ever had one male to light anywhere else (I've also seen a couple of females at other sites, both during the day).

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 17th April 2019

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 12th April 2020

Muslin Moth, North Elmham, 24th April 2020

Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio - 4 seen, all on Mull in June 2019: one during the day along the path from Carsaig to Rubha Dubh, singles in torchlight at 2 sites and one to an outside light at our accommodation in Carsaig.  In Norfolk this species is largely restricted to the Brecks, the only area I've seen it before.

Clouded Buff, Allt Molach (Mull), 13th June 2019

Clouded Buff, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa - At least 34 caught in the garden between 18th May and 10th August 2019, but not counted on 2 nights so perhaps a few more.  That's pretty much average here but the 8 bewteen 14th July and 4th August 2020 was by far my worst year here.  Also a caterpillar here on 26th February 2020.  Elsewhere one next door, 28 at the meadows (on 8 nights) , 4 at Bintree Wood, one at Whitwell Street and one in Hellesdon.

Ruby Tiger, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September 2019

Ruby Tiger caterpillar, North Elmham, 26th February 2020

Ruby Tiger, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Garden Tiger Arctia caja - One in the garden trap on 20th July 2019.  I've only had this species here twice before (both 2017 when I also caught one next door).  None here in 2020 but one at Brancaster on 2nd July.

Garden Tiger, North Elmham, 20th July 2019

Garden Tiger, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Cinnabar Tyria jacobaea - Totals of 14 caught in the garden moth trap between 22nd May and 2nd July 2019 and 17 between 19th May and 26th June 2020, my worst totals since moving here (average annual total is 42).  Elsewhere 5 at the meadows, 3 at Bintree Wood and 9 at various sites on Mull,  comprising a mixture of day time observations and individuals coming to light.  Also at least 30 caterpillars on Ragwort at the meadows on 5th July 2019 and smaller numbers the following year.  At Titchwell on 21st July 12 adults seen during the day and also some caterpillars.

Cinnabar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Cinnabar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Cinnabar caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019

Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata - At least 172 caught here between 4th July and 7th August 2019 but probably a few more as they weren't counted on 3 nights.  Also an autumn generation example on 30th September.  This is about average here, but 2020 was my worst year so far with just 80 between 25th June and 15th August 2020.  Elsewhere one next door, 8 at the meadows (4 nights), 2 at Bintree Wood and one at Weybourne.

Rosy Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Rosy Footman, North Elmham, 25th June 2020

Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana - None.  I've never seen this scarce species but there are scattered records around the county including a couple not all that far away from here, so I'm hopeful that I'll get one sometime.


Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex - At least 22 here between 5th July and 4th August 2019, with 2 nights not counted.  That's my best year so far, with an average of 10 a year previously.  In contrast 2020 was my joint worst year with 6 between 8th and 31st July.  Elsewhere one at the meadows and one at Hellesdon in 2019 and 15 at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesemella - One at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020 was my only record in 2019/20.  I caught 8 of these in my garden between 2015 and 2017 but none since.

Four-dotted Footman, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra - None.  I've only ever caught this migrant species once in east Norfolk and in Cornwall.  David Knight has caught one just down the road at Worthing so no reason why one shouldn't appear in my trap one day.


Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis - None.  I caught 21 of these between 2102 and 2016, some in their Breckland stronghold but also at quite a few different sites away from the Brecks (including once here at home, in 2015).  They were often fresh individuals and not coinciding with arrivals of migrants, so it was concluded that they had spread and colonised more of the county than just the Brecks.  Sadly it all seems to have gone a bit quiet since then.  Hopefully it's just a cyclical dip - it is still being recorded away from the Brecks in smaller numbers which suggests it is hanging on, and that being so perhaps we can expect another peak quite sooon.  I certainly hope so - they're smart moths!


Buff Footman Eilema depressa - 6 in the garden between 22nd and 25th July 2019 and just 2 in 2020, on 16th July and 12th August.  These were my worst totals since moving here - I had been averaging over 15 a year.  Elsewhere 5 at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020 and my first at the meadows on 7th August 2020.

Buff Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th Augsut 2020

Dingy Footman Eilema griseola - Recorded in the garden on 33 nights between 7th July and 20th August.  I didn't count them on 9 nights starting during their peak flight period (37 on 24th July) so impossible to estimate how many in total (139 on the nights I did count).  However, having averaged well over 300 a year over the previous 4 years, I'm pretty sure this was a poor year.  2020 certainly was - 179 between 28th June and 19th August was my lowest count other than the incomplete 2019 total.  Elsewhere 28 at the meadows, 55 at Bintree Wood on 24th July, 2 in Hellesdon and one at Row Heath (West Runton).


Common Footman Eilema lurideola - Recorded at home from 5th June 2019 with 722 by 24th July (when counts peaked at 73).  Recorded without counts on another 11 nights until 5th August.  Over the previous 4 years I had averaged 785 a year.  2020 was my best year so far with 989 between 10th June and 8th August.  Caterpillars in the moth trap on 1st March, 30th May and 10th and 26th December 2019 - presumably the eggs had been laid in the trap rather than they had crawled into it).  Elsewhere 22 at the meadows (10 nights), 12 at Bintree Wood, 10 at Hellesdon, 5 at Weybourne and one at Brancaster.  Also a caterpillar at the meadows in January 2020.

Common Footman caterpillar, North Elmham, 10th December 2019

Common Footman caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th January 2020

Scarce Footman Eilema complana - Recorded at home between 8th July and 7th August 2019 including a record count of 25 on 24th July.  After that I recorded it every night up to 7th August but apart from one on the last date I didn't count them on the other 13 nights.  I average 92 a year - with so many nights uncounted during their peak flight period it's impossible to know if 2019 was better or worse than that.  2020 was a good year, though not my best, with 131 between 17th June and 9th August.  Elsewhere 33 at the meadows (on 7 nights including 20 on 18th July 2020), 70 at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020, 2 at Hellesdon, one at Brancaster and one at Weybourne.

Scarce Footman, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

I sometimes come across pale washed-out examples that resemble Hoary Footman.  They're usually just worn but I tend to check them for Hoary just in case and so far they've always proven to be Scarce Footmen as expected.  On these worn examples the hindwings can look paler too, so I'd be wary of confirming a Hoary based on its hindwing colour.  The hindwings might be sufficient on some to confirm they are just Common (and so might a strong contrasting pale edge to the forewing?) but I often check the genitalia to make sure.  Hoary Footman is definitely a species worth looking for in Norfolk - it's spreading and there have been more records in Suffolk recently.  I can't imagine it will be long before we get them in Norfolk though I don't suppose the first ones are likely to turn up round here.

male Scarce Footman, North Elmham, 21st July 2020

Update 5-Apr-21: I originally posted a photo of a caterpillar here, from 23rd March 2019, which I thought might possibly be Scarce Footman.  I couldn't find any better options at the time but felt the orange dots weren't right and the hairs looked like they might be too long.  Finally the has penny dropped - it was in fact a December Moth.


Orange Footman Eilema sorocula - 2019 was a terrible year for this species - just a single record of one here on 1st June.  I've never had fewer than 8 here in a year before and the average is 13-14.  I had 10 in a single night in 2018!  2020 was better, if a little below par, with 10 between 19th May and 17th June.  Also one at Bintree Wood and 3 at Hills and Holes.

Orange Footman, North Elmham, 19th May 2020

Next page: more Erebidae

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.