Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 15: Other Clays and Rustics

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Dotted Clay Xestia baja - None.  I've not recorded this species locally but it has been found nearby so hopefully I'll catch one here someday.


Square-spotted Clay Xestia stigmatica - Totals of 10 in the garden between 4th August and 1st September 2019 and 6 between 2nd August and 9th September 2020, the last being my latest ever.  I had 21 in 2015 and have averaged 11 a year - 2020's paltry 6 was my lowest annual total.  Elsewhere one next door and 3 at the meadows.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Heath Rustic Xestia agathina - One at Row Heath (West Runton) on 31st August 2019 was my first ever, making what would otherwise have been a pretty disappointing field trip seem worthwhile.  Now I just need to find one locally...  None in 2020.

Heath Rustic, Row Heath (West Runton), 31st August 2019

Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa - Totals of 159 caught here between 17th August and 26th September 2019 and 177 between 4th August and 22nd September 2020, more than my average of 128 a year.  A count of 18 on 28th August 2019 was my highest ever here.  Elsewhere 59 at the meadows, mostly over 3 nights, 25 at Whitwell Street, 8 at Swanton Great Wood, one at Row Heath (West Runton) and 57 in Cornwall.  One at Weybourne on 5th July was far and away my earliest ever (my first July record).

Square-spot Rustic, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September 2019 - doing its best to look like a Heath Rustic

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 29th August 2020

Six-striped Rustic Xestia sexstrigata - Totals of 24 here between 10th and 29th August 2019 and 17 between 6th and 24th August 2020.  I average 31 a year here.  Elsewhere one next door.


Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum - Totals of 19 caught in the garden between 20th May and 7th July 2019, at least 178 between 31st July and 10th October 2019, 16 between 18th May and 13th June 2020 and 190 between 31st July and 2nd October 2020.  Since 2015 numbers have varied between 152 and the 206 in 2020 with 8% in the late spring generation and the other 92% in the autumn generation.  Elsewhere recorded next door on all 4 nights, 39 at the meadows over 15 nights (including a later one on 1st November 2019), 4 at Whitwell Street, 3 at Swanton Great Wood, one at Weybourne, 3 at Row Heath (West Runton) and 22 in Cornwall.

Setaceous Hebrew Character, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th September 2019

Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium - None.  Disregarding some of my early records when I was misinterpreting a slightly misleading description in the books I have never recorded this species in Norfolk.  Taken at face value, the spread and quantity of records in Norfolk suggest that I ought to be finding this species here regularly enough.  However several highly experienced and long-term moth recorders I know haven't found it in the county either, so I suspect that a lot of the records are misidentified.  It's plausible that I have overlooked the odd one - I'm not confident I would pick one out from its forewing features - but I do check the majority of Double Square-spots pretty carefully including getting at least a glimpse of the hindwing in most cases.


Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum - At least 150 in the garden between 23rd June and 26th July 2019 but probably a few more as I didn't count them on the last couple of nights (the peak count, a record 31, was only 2 nights before that, 23rd July).  In any case, well above the average of 120.  In contrast, 2020 was my worst year here so far with just 59 between 13th June and 31st July.  Elsewhere 5 over 3 nights at the meadows and 7 at Weybourne.

Double Square-spot, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Autumnal Rustic Eugnorisma glareosa - 10 at Tresidder in Cornwall between 7th and 9th October 2020.  I've seen lots of these in Cornwall but still haven't managed to find one in Norfolk.  They're not especially rare here so I should get my first county record before too long and maybe even a local one.

Autumnal Rustic, Tresidder (Cornwall), 9th October 2020

Gothic Naenia typica - None.  I've only ever caught 2 of these, one here in 2015 and one at my last house in Bawdeswell in 2013.


Next page: Nolidae

One moth, two caddis and two bug lifers all in a night's work

This Dark-fringed Flat-body Agonopterix nervosa was one of several highlights on Thursday 17th August, a new species of moth for me.

Dark-fringed Flat-body Agonopterix nervosa (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th August

I suspected that this peculiar-looking moth would turn out to be a Common Carpet despite it looking very different from the normal appearance of this species, and so it was - but I have never seen one looking anything like this before - has anyone else?  The dark band across the middle is very much narrower than normal and the outer darkish band is much broader than normal filling up the space.

Common Carpet (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th August

This Six-striped Rustic was new for the year.

Six-striped Rustic, North Elmham, 17th August

The other moths were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 17 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, Garden Carpet, another normal Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Currant Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, 3 Pale Prominents, 9 Flame Shoulders, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 8 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Bright-line Brown-eye, Common Wainscot, Straw Underwing, Flounced Rustic and 4 Straw Dots.

As if a new moth wasn't good enough there were also a few other insect lifers.   There were 8 caddisflies and all 8 were different species.  I've not been doing caddisflies for long but even so it already seems quite unusual to get a new species at home, so this haul was remarkable - two lifers Limnephilus hirsutus and Micropterna sequax and one new for the house Holocentropus picicornis.

Limnephilus hirsutus (female), North Elmham, 17th August

Micropterna sequax (male), North Elmham, 17th August

I'd had my first picicornis just 3 days earlier at Potter Heigham - if you read my diary entry for that excursion you may recall reading about it being the unspotted form rather than the usual spotted one - this time it was the typical form and very striking it was too.

Holocentropus picicornis (male), North Elmham, 17th August

The other 5 caddisflies were Hydropsyche pellucidula, Agrypnia pagetana, Crunoecia irrorata, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus lunatus.  Other insects included 5 species of bug including two lifers, the mirid bug Neolygus contaminatus and the water boatman Sigara dorsalis.  Now strictly speaking the Water Boatman could have been Sigara striata (there is a subtle difference in the genitalia but I couldn't resolve this one) but my understanding is that dorsalis is very common in Norfolk whereas striata is, or at least was, very much rarer.  Other bugs were 2 Forest Bugs and the leafhoppers Oncopsis subangulata and Empoasca vitis.

Neolygus contaminatus, North Elmham, 17th August

presumed Sigara dorsalis (male), North Elmham, 17th August

Oncopsis subangulata, North Elmham, 17th August

The rest of the insects I recorded were 5 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), 2 Chrysoperla carnea (female agg. and male carnea) (green lacewings), Rhantus suturalis (water beetle) and Aphodius rufipes (dung beetle).  Also 2 Common Frogs watching proceedings, one from the lid of the trap.

A visit to Ryburgh the next day produced a Mouse Moth and a Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana. That night at home there were far fewer insects.  Square-spot Rustic was new for the year.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 18th August

The other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 5 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Brimstone Moths, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pale Prominent, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Six-striped Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Burnished Brass and Snout.

There weren't many other insects either but two beetles were both new for the house: Eyed Ladybird and Cortinicara gibbosa (I wouldn't have identified the gibbosa in previous years but I think the ladybird was genuinely a good record here).

Eyed Ladybird, North Elmham, 18th August

Cortinicara gibbosa, North Elmham, 18th August

Cherry Bark Moth in all its colourful shining glory

Another Ginger Button Acleris aspersana was probably the highlight on 3rd August.

Ginger Button Acleris aspersana, North Elmham, 3rd August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 4 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 23 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros consisted of Pebble Hook-tip, Small Fan-footed Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 7 Riband Waves, Shaded Broad-bar, Magpie Moth, Early Thorn, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 5 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 11 Common Footmen, Ruby Tiger, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, Knot Grass, Coronet, 2 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, 7 Common Rustics, Ear Moth, 7 Uncertains, Rustic, 2 Spectacles, 6 Straw Dots and Fan-foot.

Coronet, North Elmham, 3rd August

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 3rd August

Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd August

Other insects included the Green Lacewing Dichochrysa flavifrons and another new leafhopper for me, Balclutha punctata.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 3rd August

The next night was a bit better with my second and third ever Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi.

Pine Leaf-mining Moths Clavigesta purdeyi, North Elmham, 4th August

Another good duo were 2 Cherry Bark Moths Enarmonia formosana.  I only saw this species for the first (and second) time last year and one of the two this time was a fresh example looking stunning in all its colourful shining glory.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana, North Elmham, 4th August

This Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana was a form (f. caeruleaoatrana) that I've rarely seen before.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana (f. caeruleaoatrana), North Elmham, 4th August

Other micros included Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, 5 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 25 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis and 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis.

The only macro new for the year was somewhat less exciting than the micros - a Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 4th August

The other macros were Small Fan-footed Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Small Rivulets, Wormwood Pug, 3 Magpie Moths, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, 3 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, Black Arches, 2 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, 5 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Double Square-spot, 3 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, Straw Underwing, 3 Dun-bars, 5 Dark Arches, 3 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, Flounced Rustic, Ear Moth, 5 Uncertains, Nut-tree Tussock, 12 Straw Dots and 2 Fan-foots.

Knot Grass, Cherry Bark and Chocolate

The highlight on 14th August was my second ever Knot Grass, exactly one year after my first (also here).

Knot Grass, North Elmham, 14th August

Also new for the year were Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana and Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana.

 Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, North Elmham, 14th August

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, North Elmham, 14th August

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 41 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, 4 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 18 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella and Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis.

The other macros were Orange Swift, Chinese Character, 2 Blood-veins, Small Blood-vein, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 22 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Maple Pug, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 11 Willow Beauties, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Ruby Tiger, 10 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 5 Flame Shoulders, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 15 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spotted Clays, Six-striped Rustic, Lychnis, Antler Moth, White-point, 2 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 3 Flounced Rustics, Ear Moth, 3 Uncertains, Dark Spectacle and 2 Straw Dots.


Next day I was birding at Burnham Overy and scored some lepidoptera while I was at it... Six species of butterfly included Grayling, 2 Wall Browns and Painted Lady, while moths included at least 15 Spindle Ermines Yponomeuta cagnagella and a Yellow Shell.

Among the moths at home on 15th only one was new for the year, and that a very common species: Square-spot Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 15th August

But there were some good moths too.  My first ever Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana was just a few weeks ago and tonight got me my second.  Like the first it wasn't the freshest of individuals so I still look forward to a proper fresh one, stunning as they look to be from the photos.  This one was worn enough that I decided it was safest to dissect it just to make sure I'd got it right.

Cherry Bark Moth Enarmonia formosana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 15th August

A Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis was pretty late - they normally fly between May and mid July, peaking in June.  There are a handful of later records and as this was quite worn I assume it was just a late flying individual rather than a second generation.

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 15th August

The rest were Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 11 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 31 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, 2 Chinese Characters, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Tawny Speckled Pug, Scalloped Oak, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Pebble Prominents, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Dingy Footman, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Flame Shoulder, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, 6 Six-striped Rustics, Antler Moth, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, 3 Flounced Rustics, Burnished Brass and Straw Dot.

Square-spotted Clay, North Elmham, 15th August

Next evening (16th) was much quieter: just Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 8 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, Square-spot Rustic and 6 Flounced Rustics.

Chocolate-tip, North Elmham, 16th August