Cypress Pug and a good year for Elachista alpinella

Back at home (after Marsham Heath) on 1st September the trap produced a lifer in the shape of Marsh Dwarf Elachista alpinella.  It has evidently been a good year for this species as this was my first of 5 this autumn and others have been getting them too.  Prior to this year there were only 8 records in Norfolk - once mine are added we will have recorded more than that this year alone.

Marsh Dwarf Elachista alpinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 1st September

On the sheet round my trap I found a single wing belonging to a Pale Eggar.  Presumably it had been predated by a Bat during the night?   A White-shouldered Smudge Yposolopha parenthesella was next best but apart from that there wasn't a great deal else: Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Small Dusty Wave, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Common Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, 5 Green Carpets, Currant Pug, Treble-bar, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 6 Dusky Thorns, 9 Light Emeralds, 4 Flame Shoulders, 22 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Small Square-spots, 11 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 13 Square-spot Rustics, Bright-line Brown-eye, 6 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, 4 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 2 Vine's Rustics, 4 Burnished Brasses, 8 Straw Dots and 8 Snouts.

Other insects noted included Forest Bug, the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus and 2 Common Wasps.

The next night the highlight was a Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, my first at this house and only my second or third anywhere.

Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea (male, gen det), North Elmham, 2nd September

Other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Grey Poplar Bell Epinotia nisella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, 6 Green Carpets, 17 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Dusky Thorns, 8 Light Emeralds, Dingy Footman, Flame Shoulder, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 5 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Feathered Gothic, Centre-barred Sallow, Copper Underwing, Dark Arches, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses, 12 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

Other insects included Oak Bush-cricket, Forest Bug and this Deraeocoris lutescens.

Deraeocoris lutescens, North Elmham, 2nd September

The following night we went out for dinner with friends at Rockland St Mary's.  They had some moths in the house which I took a look at - all 3 were Square-spot Rustics.  On the way home I took a diversion through some areas where I had seen badger before, as Vitty has never seen a live badger.  As we drove through Old Beetley we found a Badger in almost exactly the same spot as I'd seen one before.

Back at home the standout highlight from the night's trapping was a Cypress Pug.  This is a recent colonnist and is spreading northwards, first recorded in Norfolk in 1988 but not again until 2009.  Then this year there have been 4 more, including mine.

Cypress Pug, North Elmham, 3rd September

Not a particularly impressive catch apart from that - Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 4 Green Carpets, Clouded Border, 13 Brimstone Moths, Dusky Thorn, 6 Light Emeralds, 3 Flame Shoulders, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Frosted Oranges, Burnished Brass, 4 Straw Dots and 10 Snouts.

Frosted Orange, North Elmham, 3rd September

Also 4 Forest Bugs and a male and female of the hoverfly Eupeodes corollae.

Eupeodes corollae, North Elmham, 3rd September

Nothing very remarkable among the moths on 4th September: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Garden Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 5 Brimstone Moths, 4 Dusky Thorns, Willow Beauty, 8 Light Emeralds, 5 Flame Shoulders, 19 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 5 Square-spot Rustics, Cabbage Moth, 2 Common Wainscots, 3 Centre-barred Sallows, Vine's Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Straw Dots, 12 Snouts and Pinion-streaked Snout.

On 5th I went to Burnham Overy where there was a good selection of butterflies: 15 Small Whites, 3 Small Coppers, 3 Brown Arguses, 3 Common Blues, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, 2  Small Tortoiseshells, 3 Small Heaths, Speckled Wood and 2 Wall Browns.  Among the moths were two more examples of the then-still-mystery plume moths which I suspected were simply small examples of Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.  I retained one of them as by this time I hadn't yet checked the one I retained last time.  Like the last one this one turned out to be Dowdy Plume Stenoptilia zophodactylus.  Other moths were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, 8 Carnation Tortrixes Cacoecimorpha pronubana, 8 Barred Grass-veneers Agriphila inquinatella and Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea.

Andy wasn't on hand to help with the spiders today but I did photograph a couple that I noticed.  One seems to be just a Garden Spider while the other appears to be one of the Tetragnatha sp.  Not sure which species though.

Tetragnatha sp., Burnham Overy, 5th September

This Stoat kept disappearing down rabbit holes only to pop up again in another one.

Stoat, Burnham Overy, 5th September

That night proved to be a good one for moths and other insects.  Highlights included another Marsh Dwarf Elachista alpinella and my second ever Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana.

Marsh Dwarf Elachista alpinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 5th September

Thyme Marble Celypha cespitana, North Elmham, 5th September

Over 200 moths in total was excellent for September, the rest being Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, presumed Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella (specimen lost so not checked), Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Rusty-dot Pearls Udea ferrugalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Blood-vein, Flame Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, 5 Common Marbled Carpets, 13 Green Carpets, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 26 Brimstone Moths, 8 Dusky Thorns, 10 Light Emeralds, Ruby Tiger, 4 Flame Shoulders, 19 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 8 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 12 Square-spot Rustics, Cabbage Moth, Feathered Gothic, Common Wainscot, 3 Centre-barred Sallows, Mouse Moth, Flounced Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, 3 Straw Dots and 30 Snouts.

It wasn't just moths - the trap contained 4 different species of Lacewing: Green Lacewings Chrysoperla carnea agg. (presumably carnea but female pallida can't be eliminated, though unlikely), Cunctochrysa albolineata and Dichochrysa flavifrons and the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens.  There were 4 Birch Shieldbugs and 5 Forest Bugs (Red-legged Shieldbugs).  Also this hoverfly Eristalis tenax.

Eristalis tenax, North Elmham, 5th September

Streamer

2 Hebrew Characters were the only new moths on Sunday night but Monday was a little better with 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, Brindled Pug, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character and 3 Early Greys. In addition Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla and  Yellow-barred Brindle were both new for the year.

Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, North Elmham, 18th April

Yellow-barred Brindle, North Elmham, 18th April

Next day I photographed this Zebra Spider in my study.  I don't normally like spiders but these dinky little ones are oddly cute.

cute little Zebra Spider, North Elmham, 19th April

Sadly I can't say the same about this horrible thing, which I think may be Tegenaria gigantea, though I'm not clear if there are other similar species that need ruling out.  Proper scared of these!

gross scary Spider (possibly Tegenaria gigantea?), North Elmham, 19th April

Only 2 moths on Tuesday night - Clouded Drab and Early Grey.  On Wednesday I had the day off and headed up to Burnham Overy for some birding.  Little non-avian interest - a Peacock butterfly was the only Lepidoptera (oh, and Brown-tail larvae).  This Stoat disappeared down a rabbit burrow emerging from a different hole.

Stoat, Burnham Overy, 20th April

I've caught what I presumed to be the same Red Chestnut on a number of occasions recently, albeit sometimes with 2-3 nights between trappings.  I've assumed it was the same because it seemed to have the same distinctive pattern of wear - like someone had stuck there thumb across the middled of it and rubbed all its scales off from a big patch in the middle.  Caught it again on Wednesday night, or aother similarly worn individual.  Other than that just 2 Hebrew Characters.

On Thursday I found a Buffish Mining Bee Andrena nigroaenea in the garden - the first time I've positively identified this species, thanks to Richard Lewington's new book.

Thursday night was another poor night for moths but I'm always excited to see a Streamer and this was my first of the year.  Otherwise just 2 Hebrew Characters and an Early Grey.

Streamer, North Elmham, 21st April

Honeysuckle Midget (Phyllonorycter trifasciella) and Bindweed Bent-wing (Bedellia somnulentella)

20th October 2015 is a day that will be etched into my memory for years to come, a day when after years of effort my attempts to find a rare bird finally paid off.  And not just any old rare bird, but a Brown Shrike.  But you can read about that in my birding diary - this diary is about moths.  And there was a moth highlight that day too.  On my way to Porthgwarra (where I found the Shrike) I passed through Nanjizal Valley and caught a moth I'd never seen before.  I didn't see many day-flying moths during my week in Cornwall but as I walked through the bracken on the south side of the valley I glimpsed a moth flying across the path.  I managed to catch and pot it to examine later, and it turned out to be a Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella.  It's supposed to be a common moth, common enough even in my home county of Norfolk (where my old garden was rammed full of Honeysuckle), but for whatever reason it's one that had up to now eluded me.  So in terms of my pan-list, more valuable than the Brown Shrike.

Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella, Nanjizal, 20th October

The moths caught back at the cottage that night weren't very different from those caught the previous two nights: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Garden Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Autumnal Rustics, 10 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Black Rustic, 4 Green-brindled Crescents, 14 Feathered Ranunculus, 7 Red-line Quakers, 9 Beaded Chestnuts, 55 Lunar Underwings and Angle Shades.

Among non-avian wildlife seen the next day this Stoat was the best.

Stoat, Hayle, 21st October

With poor weather overnight the moths caught were fewer than previous nights: 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 5 Feathered Ranunculus, 3 Red-line Quakers, 6 Beaded Chestnuts, 35 Lunar Underwings and Rosy Rustic.

Some bigger numbers on the night of 22nd October: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 4 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, 19 Feathered Ranunculus, 4 Red-line Quakers, Brown-spot Pinion, 13 Beaded Chestnuts, 74 Lunar Underwings, Angle Shades and Snout.

While at Porthgwarra on 23rd I bumped in to the couple staying at the cottage where we usually stay.  They hadn't yet emptied their moth trap and kindly invited me to pop down and have a look.  They'd caught a lot more moths than I had, and also a much greater variety.  Best among them was this Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis.  Thanks Mike!

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, Porthgwarra, from 22nd October

A few other bits and pieces there too, including this Feathered Brindle.

Feathered Brindle, Porthgwarra, from 22nd October

Later in the day this Betony was a flower tick.  For some reason this species seems to be much scarcer in Norfolk (and elsewhere in the Fens) than pretty much everywhere else in England.

Betony, Little Henda, 23rd October

Not much overnight at the cottage that day: Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 5 Feathered Ranunculus, 2 Red-line Quakers, Beaded Chestnut, 10 Lunar Underwings and Silver Y.

Not much the following night either, our last night in Cornwall: Autumnal Rustic, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Black Rustic, 8 Feathered Ranunculus, Dark Chestnut, 2 Red-line Quakers, 5 Beaded Chestnuts and 22 Lunar Underwings.

Early on our last morning I spent a short while birding at Porthgwarra before heading home.  While there I netted a moth which turned out to be Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, a species I'd only seen once before.

Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, Porthgwarra, 25th October

Another Prays ruficeps as the moths make way for non-Lepidopteran interest

I recently posted about my first ever Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps, but when I caught that one I didn't have time to work out what it was and potted it up to look at later.  I hadn't done so when I caught another unfamiliar moth on 24th September, and I hadn't a clue what it was.  This one was a bit worn, and the pale reddish collar from which it gets its name ruficeps wasn't clear.  It was not only a species I wasn't familiar with, but a member of a whole family I wasn't familiar with, and it wasn't really on my radar.  At first I thought it was a Tineid, but although some of the rarer clothes moths could look superficially similar it didn't really look right for a Tineid and none of the likely species matched at all.  Perhaps a worn Scythrid I pondered, but it would have to be not only a very rare species that normally flies in daytime (it was caught overnight) but also flying much later than normal.  Not likely.  Eventually I followed Rob's advice and used the Kleine Vinders key to families in order to at least resolve what family it was in.  These keys aren't always easy to use, but it pointed to Yponomeutidae.  Well, there aren't any Yponomeutids that look anything like this, so that can't be right.  But the size and shape of the moth was somewhat reminiscent of some Yponomeutids.  Then I remembered that some species formerly considered part of Yponomeutidae are now treated as a separate family - specifically Prayidae.  Some of my references don't cover Prays ruficeps as it used to be considered to be a dark form of Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella, so perhaps that's my excuse for overlooking it, but anyway once I checked the Prayidae thumbnails on Norfolk Moths, all became clear.

Dark Ash Bud Moth Prays ruficeps, North Elmham, 24th September

Otherwise it was a pretty poor night with just Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brimstone Moth, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 18 Lunar Underwings and Sallow.

I think this Harvestman may be Odiellus spinosus, but if anyone who knows their Arachnids can confirm that would be great...

possible Odiellus spinosus, North Elmham, 24th September

On 25th September another attempt to find avian migrants in my lunch break failed, but I did find Stoat, Migrant Hawker and Hairy Shieldbug.

Hairy Shieldbug, Thornham, 25th September

The next couple of nights' mothing was extremely poor: 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 5 Lunar Underwings and Sallow on 25th (along with a Speckled Bush-Cricket), Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana and 2 Lunar Underwings on 26th.

 Speckled Bush-Cricket, North Elmham, 25th September

On 27th I enjoyed some interesting non-avian activity while out birding, which I've already posted about on my birding diary.  Specifically this Stoat 12' up a tree (with a Yellow-browed Warbler) was interesting...

Stoat, Brancaster Staithe, 27th September

...and I enjoyed watching Bats (were they Noctules?) in the evening:

Bats (Noctules?), Burnham Norton, 27th September

With cold clear nights continuing the mothing remained poor: 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Square-spot Rustic and 5 Lunar Underwings on 27th and Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Dusky Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing and 5 Lunar Underwings on 28th.