Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 10: Thorns and March Moth (Apeira to Alosphila)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE) (continued)


Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria - 4 caught here between 23rd June and 10th July 2019.  I've had between 4 and 7 each year I've lived here until 2020 when I didn't catch any here.  Of the 37 Lilac Beauties I've ever seen only 2 have been away from one or other of my homes and one of those was my only Lilac Beauty in 2020, at Bintree Wood on 26th June.


Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria - None.  This species (which I've never seen) appears to be reasonably common in some parts of the far west of the county but pretty scarce elsewhere.  There are a few records in mid Norfolk though, so I'd like to think I might catch one locally some day.


August Thorn Ennomos quercinaria - None.  This must be one of the commonest moths that I've not seen yet and although they're not as common round here as they are in parts of Norwich there are quite a few records from nearby - including one in my neighbouring tetrad in 2019 (this side of Brisley I think).


Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria - Totals of 8 here between 9th August and 9th September 2019 and 17 between 19th July and 13th September 2020.  2019 was my worst year so far but 2020 was pretty average.  Elsewhere just one at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019.

Canary-shouldered Thorn, North Elmham, 26th July 2020

Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria - Totals of 23 here between 28th July and 22nd September 2019 and 55 between 23rd July and 18th September 2020.  Average here is about 41 a year.  Elsewhere 3 next door, 8 at the meadows and 5 at Whitwell Street.

Dusky Thorn, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th September 2019

September Thorn Ennomos erosaria - None. I've never seen this species but there are a few records in mid Norfolk so it may turn up here sometime.  Much less chance of this than August Thorn though, and I can't even manage to catch one of them.


Early Thorn Selenia dentaria - In the spring generation totals of 8 between 21st March and 23rd April 2019 and 13 between 14th March and 18th April 2020. In summer at least 58 (but not counted on 3 dates) between 5th July and 1st August 2019 and 20 between 25th June and 30th July 2020.  2020's total of 33 was my lowest in 6 years and around half the average.  Elsewhere just one at the meadows on 18th March 2019 and on in Hellesdon.

Early Thorn, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th March 2019

Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria - Only 2 at home in 2019, on 24th and 26th July, fewer than I've caught in the past (3 for the last couple of years, 8 in each of the previous 2 years).  A more typical 5 here between 5th and 27th July 2020.  Elsewhere spring generation singles at the meadows and Sculthorpe Moor on 22nd and 26th April 2019.

Purple Thorn, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Purple Thorn, North Elmham, 10th July 2020

Purple Thorn, North Elmham, 27th July 2020

Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata - Totals of 9 caught here between 17th and 30th May 2019 and 5 betweeen 3rd and 26th May 2020.  These were my joint highest and my lowest annual totals in the 6 years I've been here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows and one at Hills and Holes and then caterpillars in October 2020 which I believe to be this species - one at Penberth in Cornwall on 7th and one at the meadows on 30th, both on Ivy.

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 17th May 2019

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Scalloped Hazel caterpillar, Penberth, 7th October 2020

Scalloped Hazel caterpillar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2020

Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria - At least 35 trapped in the garden between 7th July and 11th August 2019; even allowing for a couple of nights when they weren't counted this was probably my worst total here and certainly below the average of 47 a year.  2020 made up for it with 65 between 30th June and 5th August.  Elsewehere one at the meadows and 6 at Brancaster.

Scalloped Oak, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria - Singles caught at home on 7 dates between 24th June and 17th July 2019, making it my worst year here so far (I average 19 a year), and 10 between 13th June and 5th July 2020 plus a late second generation individual on 20th October (my second October record following one in 2014).  A few elsewhere: 2 at the meadows, 2 at Hellesdon and one at Weybourne.

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham, 13th June 2020

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham, 20th October 2020

Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria - 30 in my garden between 19th October and 24th November 2019 and 35 between 10th October and 13th November 2020.  These weren't quite my worst annual totals but were well below the average of 45.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows.

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 21st October 2019

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 9th November 2020

March Moth Alsophila aescularia - 17 between 7th February and 1st April 2019 and 12 between 14th February and 25th March 2020.  These were my worst 2 years in 6 but so far 2021 has been one of my best.  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows on 20th March 2019, another in 2020 and one at Lynford.

March Moth, North Elmham, 7th February 2019

March Moth, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th March 2019

Next page: more Geometridae

Hawk-moth double act and a new Springtail

I found this Yellow-barred Brindle by the trap as I went to check it on the evening of Tuesday 15th, a new one for the year.

Yellow-barred Brindle, North Elmham, 15th May

There didn't seem to be many other moths in the trap and sure enough when I went through it in the morning there were only a dozen.  But these included my first two hawk-moths for the year, side by side on the same egg tray: Poplar Hawk-moth and Eyed Hawk-moth.  The others were Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Pug, Brindled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Waved Umber, Pale Tussock, White Ermine, Early Grey and Nut-tree Tussock (and there was a Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella indoors).

Poplar Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 15th May

Eyed Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 15th May

White Ermine, North Elmham, 15th May

Next day Common Wave and 2 Spectacles were new for the year.  There were also Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Common Pug, 2 Scalloped Hazels, Muslin Moth, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Character and a Common Earwig.

Common Wave, North Elmham, 16th May

Spectacle, North Elmham, 16th May

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 16th May

The following night Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis and Small Square-spot were added to the garden year list, and there were also Green Carpet, 3 Common Pugs, 2 Scalloped Hazels, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder and Hebrew Character.

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham, 17th May

Small Square-spot, North Elmham, 17th May

There was one other thing in the trap of note, a springtail.  Unlike the springtail I saw at the meadows a few days earlier the third segment of the antennae was of an even width, indicating this was genus Tomocerus.  This one had spines on the dens that I could see clearly (well, clearly once I had gently prised the two prongs of the furcula apart), and they were simple, not tri-dentate, indicating (I think) that it was Tomocerus vulgaris, a new species for me.  Although it was alive and kicking (or rather jumping) when I got it out of the trap, by the time I went to photograph it an hour or two later it had already died, so my only shots are of a dead springtail I'm afraid.  It doesn't show very well in the photo but under the microscope you could clearly see how the irridescent scales formed discrete bands around each segment of the abdomen, which I believe is characteristic of this species.

Tomocerus vulgaris, North Elmham, 17th May

Natterjacks, a new weevil and a rainbow halo

A birding trip to Burnham Overy on 1st May didn't produce many moths - just 2 Plain Fanners Glyphipterix fuscoviridella and a Cinnabar, though there was a caterpillar which I haven't yet been able to put a name to (maybe Garden Tiger but it doesn't look quite right to me).  Also Red Admiral, Small Copper and this Natterjack Toad.

Natterjack Toad, Burnham Overy Dunes, 1st May

unidentified caterpillar (possibly Garden Tiger?), Burnham Overy Dunes, 1st May

There was also a Limnephilus auricula (caddisfly) at Holkham.  Not many moths at home again that night but there were two new for the year: Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella and Knot Grass. The others were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Waved Umber, Muslin Moth and 3 Hebrew Characters.

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 1st May

Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st May

This weevil was on my front door (inside) in the morning - although I can't find any definitive statement that the dark line down the join of the elytra is a reliable identifier, all the images I've checked of other Strophosoma and similar species seem to lack it whereas it is apparently characteristic of Nut Leaf Weevil Strophosoma melanogrammum - a new species for me.

Strophosoma melanogrammum, North Elmham, 2nd May

Next day I returned to Burnham Overy where I saw another Natterjack in the dunes, and a Stoat.  Moths included Plain Fanner Glyphipterix fuscoviridella, Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana and 3 Cinnabars. There were 2 Small Coppers and the brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus.

Natterjack Toad, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

The most impressive natural phenonemon though was this 'glory' - a rainbow halo around my shadow as I walked down the seawall early in the morning.  I think it's also known as Brocken Spectre, though I'm not sure if that's exactly the same thing or not - more often seen in mountains apparently, though I suspect that has something to do with the way the shadow is thrown down a hillside which was sort-of the case here as I was on top of the seawall.

'Glory' or Brocken Spectre, Burnham Overy Dunes, 2nd May

Moths at home that night were Swallow Prominent, White Ermine, Muslin Moth, Clouded Drab and 4 Hebrew Characters, the White Ermine being new for the year.

White Ermine, North Elmham, 2nd May

The following night Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella and Red Twin-spot Carpet were new for the year.  There was also Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock and 4 Hebrew Characters, plus the caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus and a Black Sexton Beetle.

Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, North Elmham, 3rd May

Red Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 3rd May

The following night Scalloped Hazel was new for the year.  Other moths were 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Brindled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Swallow Prominent, Muslin Moth and 4 Hebrew Characters. Also the caddisfly Limnophilus sparsus and another Black Sexton Beetle.

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 4th May

Knapweed Bells (Epiblema cirsiana)

Last Sunday my garden produced my first Large White of the year and an Orange-tip, and in the evening Dave and I had a pre-dusk wander round Lolly Moor and Honeypot Wood, two small NWT reserves in the Dereham area.  We'd had some considerable success 'dusking' at Lolly Moor last year and hoped the warm evening sunshine might produce the goods again this time.

We found quite a few moths at Lolly Moor but the highlight was 3 Knapweed Bells Epiblema cirsiana.  This is a new species for me and a scarcely recorded one - just 2-3 records a year in Norfolk in the last 5 years and very few before that.  Males can be separated from the similar Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana by their dark hindwing - I examined two of ours, both were males and both showed a dark hindwing.

Knapweed Bell Epiblema cirsiana (male, with dark hindwing), Lolly Moor, 8th May

We also recorded 10 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella, Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Grass Rivulets and a Brindled Beauty.

Plain Gold Micropterix calthella, Lolly Moor, 8th May

A single caddisfly proved to be my first Limnephilus sparsus (not an uncommon species - I've only just started keying these out).

Limnephilus sparsus, Lolly Moor, 8th May

A search of tree-trunks along the wooded path turned up 5 Kidney-spot Ladybirds, another new species for me.

Kidney-spot Ladybird, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Among the snails were at least 4 Two-toothed Door Snails, the first time I've identified these, and both Brown-lipped and White-lipped Snails.

Two-toothed Door Snail, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Brown-lipped Snail, Lolly Moor, 8th May

We found several clumps of Lords-and-Ladies but were surprised to see this purple example.  Not noticed one like this before, but presume it's just a variant rather than some different species (nothing like that in my book).  There was another that was intermediate showing purple edges.

presumed Lords-and-Ladies, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Honeypot Wood wasn't so successful for moths, though we did see a Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella and another 15 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella (on Pendulous Sedge).  There were more Two-toothed Door Snails here and a variety of Slugs including Netted and Tree.

Two-toothed Door Snails, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

Netted Slugs, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

Tree Slug, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

That night was unexpectedly good for moths at home.  Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella was new for the house and several species were new for the year here: Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Common Pugs, Scalloped Hazel, Cinnabar, Least Black Arches, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Herald.

 Herald, North Elmham, 8th May

Cinnabar, North Elmham, 8th May

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 8th May

Common Pug, North Elmham, 8th May

Shuttle-shaped Dart, North Elmham, 8th May

Least Black Arches, North Elmham, 8th May

Bringing the list for the night up to 21 species were White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Streamers, 2 Brindled Pugs, 2 Waved Umbers, 2 Swallow Prominents, Chocolate-tip, Muslin Moth, Clouded Drab, 3 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, North Elmham, 8th May

Once again caddisflies were represented by Glyphotaelius pellucidus and 3 Limnephilus auricula.