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

The Italians are back

July kicked off with finding an Italian Tubic Metalampra italica (and a Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis) inside the house on 1st.  Then overnight there was a second Metalampra italica in the trap.  I'd had the second and third records for Norfolk in 2014 but although there have been quite a few more records elsewhere in the intervening years these were my first since then.

Italian Tubics Metalampra italica, North Elmham, 1st July

Other moths that were new for the year that night were White-speckled Clothes Moth Nemapogon koenigi, Orchard, Apple or Spindle Ermine agg. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Yellow-tail, Round-winged Muslin, Brown-line Bright Eye and Rufous Minor.

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 1st July

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, North Elmham, 1st July

Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, North Elmham, 1st July

Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, North Elmham, 1st July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 1st July

Rufous Minor (female, gen det), North Elmham, 1st July

Other highlights included Drab Clothes Moth Haplotinea insectella, Gold-sheen Clothes Moth Nemapogon ruricolella and Rose Tortrix Archips rosana.

Other moths were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 3 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 4 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 22 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Ghost Moth, Common Emerald, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, 2 Common Pugs, V-Pug, 3 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, Early Thorn, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, 3 Engraileds, 3 Clouded Silvers, 2 Buff-tips, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 28 Common Footmen, 14 Buff Ermines, 4 Heart and Clubs, Flame Shoulder, 2 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Lychnis, 2 Common Wainscots, 4 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, 14 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 6 Mottled Rustics, Beautiful Hook-tip and 5 Fan-foots.

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 1st July

Among the other insects a Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea was the first I've ever identified.

Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea, North Elmham, 1st July

Quite a few other things were new for the year including the green lacewing Cunctochrysa albolineata, the caddisfly Hydropsyche siltalai, the sexton beetle Nicrophorus investigator and the soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva.

Cunctochrysa albolineata, North Elmham, 1st July

Other inescts included the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus, the caddisflies Ecnomus tenellus and Leptocerus tineiformis, the soldier beetle Cantharis cryptica, Orange Ladybird and 2 Lagria hirta.

New moth: Acompsia cinerella

After a night off, 13th July was another good night with 100 species, though lacking some of the big numbers of the 11th.  Instead it produced a new moth for me, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella.  I guess from its vernacular name you wouldn't expect it to be much of a looker, and it lived up to expectations.

 Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, North Elmham, 14th July

Some really good moths among the others too.  Two years ago when I first found Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella it was the first Norfolk record for 129 years.  Since then there have been 9 more records in the county, so not quite the rarity it seemed, though what caused the sudden surge in records after such a long gap I have no idea.  Anyway, it's still a good moth, so good to find another one at home.

Two more scarce moths that have enjoyed a recent upsurge in numbers of records were Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella and Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, both confirmed by gen detting.

Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula and Coronet were both my second ever records.  The Coronet was interesting being a dark form - I had forgotten how green they are.

Coronet, North Elmham, 14th July

Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Also new for the year (for home) were Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Round-winged Muslin and Purple Clay. 

Purple Clay, North Elmham, 14th July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 14th July

Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham, 14th July

The best of the other micros was another Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana.  The others micros were 7 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, White-headed Ermel Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 4 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 3 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 5 Grey Tortrices Cnephasia stephensiana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 32 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 3 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 11 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella and Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella.

Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, North Elmham, 14th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 14th July

Other macros were 2 Buff Arches, 2 Common Emeralds, Small Blood-vein, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 9 Riband Waves, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, 6 Barred Straws, July Highflyer, Sandy Carpet, Wormwood Pug, Common Pug, 2 Green Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, 4 Brimstone Moths, Lilac Beauty, Early Thorn, 5 Swallow-tailed Moths, 5 Peppered Moths, 4 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, 3 Common White Waves, 11 Clouded Silvers, 2 Poplar Hawkmoths, 8 Elephant Hawkmoths, Iron Prominent, Yellow-tail, 6 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 31 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, 7 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 8 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 2 Lychnises, 5 Clays, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, 7 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, 28 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Spectacle, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, 13 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots. 

Buff Footman, North Elmham, 14th July

Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 14th July