Brindled Green and a few other autumnal insects

I didn't catch many moths on 21st September but one of them was a Brindled Green, my first and only example in 2018.  It's actually a pretty good moth here - only my fourth since moving in in 2014, recorded every other year.

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 21st September

The other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Beaded Chestnut, 11 Lunar Underwings and Snout. There wasn't much else either - the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus and the barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi.

Next day a visit to the Cathedral Meadows produced a few bits and pieces.  A rather attractive shiny green fly turned out to be a Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus.  The pair of pale spots on the face that give it its name aren't especially obvious if you're not looking for them, though easy enough to see when you do.

Twin-spot Centurion Sargus pipunctatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

This leafhopper proved to be Edwardsiana rosae.

Edwardsiana rosae (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

I've updated this page to show a revised ID for this aphid.  At the time I didn't have very good information and I tentatively identified it as something entirely different.  Now (in May 2019) I realise it was a Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis.

Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

Moths consisted of 2 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella and a Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

A little shake of a bunch of ash keys was productive.  The invertebrates that fell out included a new beetle for me, a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

Cabbage-stem Leaf Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

There were also 4 Common Earwigs, 2 caddisflies, both Limnephilus lunatus, 4 7-spot Ladybirds, a spider that I think was probably an immature Philodromus aureolus and the psyllid Psyllopsis fraxinicola.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

Philodromus sp., possibly Philodromus aureolus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September

That night at home there was an unremarkable selection of moths: 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Common Wainscot, 24 Lunar Underwings, 2 Sallows and 2 Snouts.

There were also 2 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis and 7 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies), the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and the beetle Aphodius rufipes.

Strong winds the following night meant for a distinct lack of variety in the moth trap: just Large Yellow Underwing, 25 Lunar Underwings and Pink-barred Sallow.

It was even worse on 24th with just 1 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and 10 Lunar Underwings.

A little better the next night with 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Small Dusty Wave, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Beaded Chestnut and 15 Lunar Underwings. There were also a few caddisflies again that night: Ithytrichia lamellaris, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 2 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus lunatus.

Next day at the meadows there was a Southern Hawker, a 7-spot Ladybird and 2 Harlequin Ladybirds.  I found 3 Willow Flea Beetles Crepidodera aurata on the White Willow and a female (and thus unidentifiable) Edwardsiana leafhopper on some Dogwood.

Southern Hawker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

There were 2 more Arytaina genistae in the Broom.

Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

I think this spider that was also in the Broom was Tetragnatha montana.

Tetragnatha montana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

This spider was in the Black Horehound.  I couldn't make out any epigynal or palpal features to confirm it but Dyctina arundinacea seems to be the best fit, especially in view of its dark-tipped tarsal segments.  Not a speices I've identified before.

Dyctina arundinacea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September

Moths at home that night consisted of Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Riband Waves, Mallow, Green Carpet, Ruby Tiger, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 16 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Snouts.

There was the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg. and Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus were the caddisflies.  Other bits and pieces included the beetle Aphodius rufipes, the hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus and a Hornet.

Jewel-like Willow Flea Beetles and two new leafhoppers

There were a few noteworthy moths at home on 9th September, including Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana (average one a year here) and Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana (my fifth in 2018 but prior to that I'd only had singles here in 2014 and 2015).

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 9th September

Other moths were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Small Birch Bells Epinotia ramella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Common Carpet, 4 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, Light Emerald, Flame, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Mouse Moth, Frosted Orange, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass, 6 Snouts and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Pinion-streaked Snout, North Elmham, 9th September

Mayflies and lacewings were represented by 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and Hemerobius lutescens respectively.  Caddisflies were Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche pellucidula, 4 Limnephilus flavicornis, 6 Limnephilus lunatus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.

There was also a Forest Bug, the leafhopper Alebra albostriella, the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and 2 Hornets.

A walk round the meadows the next day produced a few things.  There were 2 Hornets, a Common Carder Bee, a 7-spot Ladybird and the only moth, a Common Marble Celypha lacunana.  I found another unidentifiable (by me) Philodromus spider in some Black Horehound.  I have spent a lot of time trying to identify these spiders but with no success.  Either I've not worked out how to view the epigyne properly on female spiders or else they're all immature.  Maybe this coming year I'll find some adults and figure it out...

Shaking some Acer keys produced some insects including the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea, the barkfly Valenzuela flavidus (in Sycamore) and a new species of leafhopper for me, Edwardsiana lethierryi (in Field Maple).  I think this was also how I found the bug Deraeocoris lutescens but I forgot to record that at the time.

Edwardsiana lethierryi (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

Deraeocoris lutescens, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

The big old White Willow tree produced a couple more lifers.  Two female Kybos leafhoppers could only be partially identified based on their appearance but the fact that I found them on White Willow is, I think, sufficient to finish the job and label them as Kybos virgator.  I also found at least 6 Willow Flea Beetles Crepidodera aurata which looked like tiny little pink and green jewels (the photos don't do them justice).

Kybos virgator, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

Willow Flea Beetle Crepidodera aurata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

That night's garden moth trap's contents were Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Blood-vein, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, 2 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Spectacle and Snout. Mayflies and lavewings were Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Dichochrysa prasina, Hemerobius lutescens and Micromus variegatus. Caddisflies were Hydropsyche pellucidula, 3 Limnephilus auricula, 4 Limnephilus flavicornis, 8 Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus and Limnephilus sparsus. There was also a Forest Bug, an Ectopsocus barkfly, the beetle Aphodius rufipes and 3 Hornets.

Next day I had Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella and Small Dusty Wave in Norwich. At home a worn White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella and a Yellow-line Quaker were both new for the year.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 11th September

Other moths included Ruddy Flat-body Agonopterix subpropinquella, another Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana and an Oak Hook-tip. .

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 11th September

Oak Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th September

Other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Blood-veins, Small Blood-vein, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Common Wainscots, 3 Lunar Underwings, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 3 Frosted Oranges, Spectacle and 2 Snouts.

A Hemerobius lutescens was the only lacewing but there were a few caddisflies including my first Limnephilus vittatus of the year.  The other caddis were 4 Mottled Sedges Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 4 Limnephilus auricula, 3 Limnephilus flavicornis, 12 Limnephilus lunatus and 3 Limnephilus sparsus.

Limnephilus vittatus, North Elmham, 11th September

This fly looked like it might be distinctive enough for me to find an ID, and so it proved - my first Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus, so named because of the pair of white spots on its face.  I would have taken a photo front-on if I'd realised that at the time...

Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus, North Elmham, 11th September

The following night was quiet with 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Early Thorn, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Lunar Underwings and 3 Flounced Rustics.  The caddisflies Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus flavicornis were the only other insects I recorded.