Review of 2019 and 2020 - Brown Lacewings (Hemerobiidae) and Sponge Flies (Sisyridae)

BROWN LACEWINGS (HEMEROBIIDAE)


Hemerobius humulinus - 10 recorded in my garden in 2019, exactly the same number that I recorded in 2018 and slightly more than in 2017.  The first on 7th April was found on my patio doors (not attracted to indoor lights as they hadn't been on) and the rest were in the moth trap between 28th June and 7th September.  The early one was much more strongly marked than the others.  A poor year in 2020 produced 3 here between 4th and 21st August and one at the meadows on 16th September.

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 7th April 2019

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 28th June 2019

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham, 21st August 2020

Hemerobius humulinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th September 2020

Hemerobius lutescens - Singles at the meadows on 21st and 25th May 2019 then 11 recorded at home (mostly in the garden moth trap) between 25th May and 29th September.  A poor showing compared to 2018 when I recorded 38 here.  2020 was a little better with 18 in the garden moth trap between 31st July and 22nd September.  I think 3 larvae found on a gatepost at the meadows on 12th October 2019 may have been this species but I am not certain.

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 25th May 2019

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 10th August 2019

possible Hemerobius lutesecens larva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th October 2019

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 14th August 2020

Hemerobius lutesecens, North Elmham, 19th August 2020

Hemerobius marginatus - None.  I've never seen this species and it doesn't seem to be very common in Norfolk, but I've found rarer species so must be in with at least half a chance of finding this one.


Hemerobius micans - Caught in the garden moth trap on 26th July 2019 and 11th June and 22nd August 2020.  This species is normally scarcer here than the previous two species.  Elsewhere netted at the meadows on 22nd May 2019 and 28th September 2020.

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 11th June 2020

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham, 27th August 2020

Hemerobius micans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Hemerobius nitidulus - None.  I caught one in my garden in August 2018 but it's a species with only a handful of records in Norfolk.


Hemerobius pini - I found my first of these along a forest path near Salen on Mull on 12th June 2019.  There is, or at least in 2016 there was, only a single record of this species in Norfolk.

Hemerobius pini, south of Salen, 12th June 2019

Hemerobius stigma - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 was only my second example of this species following one in my garden the previous August.  None here in 2019 but individuals caught in the moth trap on 30th and 31st August 2020.

Hemerobius stigma, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Hemerobius stigma, North Elmham, 30th August 2020

Hemerobius stigma, North Elmham, 31st August 2020

Micromus paganus - None.  I caught 2 of these at different sites in 2016 but haven't had any since.  This is one I ought to find more often.


Micromus variegatus - A total of 33 recorded in my garden moth trap between 11th July and 3rd September 2019.  These included an impressive count of 15 on what was an excellent night for green lacewings, but not for other brown lacewings, 25th July.  Even with this good night, the total was lower than in 2018 when I caught 55 at home.  Given those numbers it was disappointing to only catch 6 in 2020, between 8th July and 15th August.  Elsewhere 3 next door and one at Swanton Great Wood, all in August 2019.  I used to think this was the easiest of the common brown lacewings to identify and began to identify them in the field without taking them in for closer examination, but then I discovered some photos of Psectra diptera online which look extremely similar (e.g. on NatureSpot which is usually quite a reliable site for IDs) - so now I'm back to examining them all carefully.

Micromus variegatus, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Psectra diptera - None.  I've never seen this sepcies but it sounds like it might be reasonably common, just not found by the sort of approaches I usually employ (like light trapping).


Sympherobius fuscescens - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's relatively scarce there are a handful of Norfolk records so must be a possibility.


Sympherobius pellucidus - A male in my garden moth trap on 29th May 2019 was the first record for Norfolk.

Sympherobius pellucidus, North Elmham, 29th May (showing forewing in second and third photos and the partially cleared tip of the abdomen in the last photo)

Sympherobius pygmaeus - None.  I caught one here in 2018 but it's rarely recorded in Norfolk (2 records prior to 2016) - not sure if mine was the third or not.


Wesmaelius concinnus - None.  I've never found this species but there are a handful of records in Norfolk.


Wesmaelius nervosus - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 24th July 2019 and 18th July and 16th September 2020.  Also one to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.  I'd only recorded one here before, in 2018. 

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

Wesmaelius nervosus, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 18th July 2020 (showing tip of abdomen)

Wesmaelius nervosus, North Elmham, 16th September 2020 (showing tip of abdomen)

Wesmaelius subnebulosus - None.  I've only caught this species here once, in 2017.  Sounds like this species tends to crop up more in more urban situations.



This larva is completely unidentified - I guess it's most likely one of the Brown Lacewings but if anyone can help narrow it down please shout.

unidentified (?Brown) lacewing larva, Titchwell, 1st June 2019

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SPONGE FLIES (SISYRIDAE)


Sisyra fuscata - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 11th and 24th July 2019 and then on 4 dates between 17th July and 7th August 2020.  I have previously caught this species here in June 2017 and July 2018.  I think this is the only species of Sponge Fly to have been recorded in Norfolk (it is also known as Sisyra nigra).

male Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

female Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

male Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 23rd July 2020

Return to Lacewings index here

My second Sisyra and another basaltinella

Six species of lacewing on 29th July was a good haul and two of them were new for the year: my second ever Sisyra fuscata and a Nineta vittata.  Other lacewings 2 Chrysoperla carnea, 2 Cunctochrysa albolineata and Dichochrysa ventralis, and 4 of the brown lacewing Micromus variegatus.

Sisyra fuscata, North Elmham, 29th July

Nineta vittata, North Elmham, 29th July

Only one moth was new for the year: Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella. The other micros were 2 Chestnut Pigmies Stigmella samiatella, Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, Apple Leaf-miner Lyonetia clerkella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, 2 Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, presumed Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, 4 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, Cherry-fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 3 Small Dingy Tubics Borkhausenia fuscescens, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Common Groundlings Teleiodes vulgella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, 11 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 31 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 4 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, 2 Bright Bells Eucosma hohenwartiana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, 63 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 15 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 7 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, North Elmham, 29th July

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, North Elmham, 29th July

Macros consisted of 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 3 Riband Waves, 6 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, Common Carpet, 2 Lime-speck Pugs, Bordered Pug, 2 Magpie Moths, Early Thorn, Willow Beauty, Yellow-tail, 10 Dingy Footmen, Common Footman, 4 Ruby Tigers, 3 Turnip Moths, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 6 Flame Shoulders, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Clays, Copper Underwing, Straw Underwing, 2 Dun-bars, Double Lobed, 3 Common Rustics, Fen Wainscot, 3 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 9 Straw Dots and Snout.

Two bugs were new for the year: the mirid bug Blepharidopterus angulatus and the leafhopper Alebra albostriella.  Others were 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Macrotylus horvathi, Phytocoris longipennis, Phytocoris varipes, Psallus varians, 3 Trigonotylus caelestialium and another Kybos strigilifer.

Blepharideopterus angulatus, North Elmham, 29th July

Alebra albostriella, North Elmham, 29th July

Other insects included 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), the caddisflies Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus rhombicus, 2 Harlequin Ladybirds and 4 Hornets.

Next day at the Cathedral Meacdows moths included 6 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella and Silver Y. There was also a leafmine of Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella in Apple and there were 6 7-spot Ladybirds.

Back at home a moth inside proved to be my seventh - and Norfolk's seventh - Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella.

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 30th July

New moths for the year that night were 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, Orange-spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinicolana and Square-spotted Clay.

Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana (males, gen det), North Elmham, 30th July

Orange-spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinicolana, North Elmham, 30th July

Other micros were 2 Bird’s-nest Moths Tinea trinotella, Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 2 Little Ermines Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Brindled Flat-bodies Agonopterix arenella, 4 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 63 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 21 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 3 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 27 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella and Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis.

The other macros were Chinese Character, Blood-vein, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 5 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Yellow Shells, Double-striped Pug, Brimstone Moth, 3 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Willow Beauties, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, Yellow-tail, 10 Dingy Footmen, 3 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 3 Ruby Tigers, 2 Turnip Moths, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 7 Flame Shoulders, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Brown-line Bright Eye, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Wainscots, Marbled Beauty, 4 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, (one unchecked Common Rustic agg.), Fen Wainscot, 3 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 2 Silver Ys and 8 Straw Dots.

Marbled Beauty, North Elmham, 30th July

Other bits and pieces included the mayflies Green Drake Ephemera danica and 7 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, the brown lacewing Micromus variegatus (2), the caddisflies Hydropsyche siltalai and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the beetles Aphodius rufipes and 4 Bradycellus verbascis, 2 Hornets and Common Wasp.