Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 8: Chestnuts and allies, Pale Pinion and Shoulder-knots

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis - Totals of 37 caught here between 20th September and 5th November 2019 and 24 between 18th September and 19th October 2020, my worst years yet (although the 2020 total was reduced by me being away for a few nights in early October).  Plotting my annual totals here gives me a smooth downward curve from the 84 here in 2014.  Elsewhere 79 over 7 nights in Cornwall in early October 2020 and 2 at the meadows on 8th November 2020.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 18th September 2020

Beaded Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura - Singles in the garden on 3 consecutive nights 2nd to 4th October 2019.  I caught 30 of these in 2014 but in the 5 years since then I've only caught 19 in total; 2020 was my first year without catching any at all.

Brown-spot Pinion, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Flounced Chestnut Agrochola helvola - None.  I first saw this species in 2017 and that remains the only one I've caught here.


Red-line Quaker Agrochola lota - Totals of 10 in the garden between 2nd October and 2nd November 2019 and 24 between 22nd September (my earliest ever) and 7th November 2020.  I've averaged about 11 a year here and 2020's total was my highest ever, and included my best count of 4 on 20th October.

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta - Totals of 22 in the garden between 14th October and 27th November 2019, the last being my latest ever, and 17 between 17th October and 15th November 2020.  These totals were a fair bit below the average annual total of over 35.  Singles seen at the meadows on 5 dates from 4th October 2019.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick Agrochola circellaris - None here in 2019 but 5 between 2nd and 13th November 2020.  I've had poor years before (e.g. just one in 2016) but 2019 was my first complete blank.  I've caught up to 12 here in a year, averaging at 5.  Elsewhere 9 at the meadows on 4 dates (mostly on Ivy) including 5 on 4th October 2019. 

Bricks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2020

Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa - Totals of 360 caught in my garden between 10th September and 14th October 2019 and 348 between 8th September and 20th October 2020, both over my average annual tally of 282.  Elsewhere 316 in Cornwall in the first week of October (including 92 at our Tresidder cottage on 8th October).  Incredibly, I haven't managed to find this species at the meadows yet.

Lunar Underwing, Tresidder (Cornwall), 7th October 2020

Chestnut Conistra vaccinii - My best years for this species at home with 58 up to 27th March  2019 and then 17 from 1st October to the year end, 27 up to 10th April 2020 and then 66 from 29th September to the year end (including a record 8 on 16th October).  The totals of 75 and 93 compare with an average annual total of less than 60.  At the meadows recorded on 12 nights with a total of 24.  The record at home on 29th September 2020 and 4 at the meadows the same night were my earliest autumn records ever.  So far 2021 is shaping up to be another excellent year for this species.

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd March 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020 (the second being a confirmed male)

Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula - 5 caught in the garden in the first winter period of 2019, up to 23rd February, then 4 in the autumn between 21st October and 24th November followed by one on 13th February 2020.  5 between 2nd October (my earliest ever) and 21st December 2020.  I average just under 7 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and one in Cornwall in October 2020.  I find some Conistra quite difficult to be certain about and so dissect a few of the trickier individuals to confirm - the results suggest I'm being over-cautious as my suspected ID nearly always proves right, but I do occasionally get it wrong and sometimes think these are over-simplified, especially with worn examples.

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 22nd February 2019

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 13th February 2020

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 2nd October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 21st December 2020

Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea - None at home in either year.  This species has very recently colonised Norfolk and is still spreading - I caught my first here in 2016 and a second in 2018.  Elsewhere one at Cranwich Heath on 14th March 2020.

Dotted Chestnut, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea - None.  This is a scarce species and I've never seen one, but it's pretty widespread so I remain optimistic that one will land in my trap sometime.


Pale Pinion Lithophane socia - Singles in my garden on 26th March 2019 (my earliest ever record) and 1st April 2020.  The 2019 individual had one wing very much shorter than the other.  This species isn't quite annual here though I average one a year.

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 26th March 2019

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 1st April 2020

Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus - singles caught in my garden on 17th October and 4th November 2019 and 18th October 2020.  1-2 a year is normal though numbers have varied from 0 to 4.

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 17th October 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 4th November 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Blair's Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri - One trapped in the garden on 28th October 2019.  This recent colonist seemed to be going from strength to strength at the time I moved here and I caught 22 in my first autumn (2014).  Since then it slumped - I caught 4 in each of the next 2 years, 3 in 2017 and none in 2018 or 2020.  A temporary dip, as in the usual peak-and-trough cycle of insect populations, or a long-term trend signalling the end of a temporary colonisation?  Time will tell, but I suspect the former.

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 28th October 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

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.

Harlequin invasion and Vapourer

A walk at Massingham Heath on 2nd October didn't produce much wildlife interest - a Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana was the only moth recorded.  A poor catch at home that night consisted of Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, Red-line Quaker, Lunar Underwing, Sallow and Rosy Rustic.

The following night Large Wainscot was new for the year.  Apart from that it was no better than the night before: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Feathered Thorn, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Green-brindled Crescent and 2 Lunar Underwings.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 3rd October

The next few nights didn't get much better:

• 4th: Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lunar Underwing, Pink-barred Sallow, 2 Large Wainscots and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus. 

• 5th: just single Lunar Underwing and Pink-barred Sallow.

• 6th: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Lunar Underwing and Limnephilus lunatus.

• 7th: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Lunar Underwing, Snout and the beetles Nicrophorus investigator and 2 Leistus spinibarbis.

At Cley on 7th this caterpillar was on the boardwalk to the central hides.  I wasn't sure what it was, even if it is a moth or sawfly.  Turns out it wasn't either - thanks to James again for letting me know it's a soldier beetle larva -  I'd never have guessed that!

soldier beetle larva, Cley, 7th October

There was a slight upturn on the night of Sunday 8th with a Spruce Carpet and my latest ever (first in October) Treble Brown Spot.  Not much else though: 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, 3 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and Snout.

A Harbour Porpoise was about the only non-avian interest at Burnham Overy on 9th October.  That night at home I caught 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Straw Dot, Chrysoperla carnea agg. (lacewing) and 3 Limnephilus lunatus (caddis).

The conditions around lunchtime on Tuesday 10th October must have been just right for ladybirds to be looking for somewhere to hibernate as between about 1 pm and 2 pm at least 36 Harlequin Ladybirds entered my study through the window which was only open a crack.  There were loads more outside that didn't find their way in too.  Among them all was a single 2-spot Ladybird, the first I've recorded here this year (though I'm pretty sure one that came in to hibernate towards the end of last year was still lurking in a corner into January at least).

That night there were 2 new moths for the year - one a lovely species I've only caught here once before and the other a very common and rather less attractive species - Vapourer and November Moth.

Vapourer, North Elmham, 10th October

November Moth (male, 8th sternite checked), North Elmham, 10th October

Other moths that night were 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Lunar Underwing, Straw Dot and Snout.  Other insects included Chrysoperla carnea (lacewing), Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Limnephilus vittatus (caddisflies) and Lamprotettix nitidulus (leafhopper).

The following night there were 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, November Moth, Feathered Thorn, Beaded Chestnut, 2 Lunar Underwings and Barred Sallow, the last of which was new for the year.  No caddisflies, lacewings, bugs or beetles.

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 11th October

It was just as quiet the next evening but still one new for the year - Yellow-line Quaker.  The others were 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Feathered Thorn, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Lunar Underwing, Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Halesus radiatus (caddisflies) and Harpalus rufipes (beetle).

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 12th October

A Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella was new for the year on 13th October.

Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, North Elmham, 13th October

This was one of a surprisingly good haul of micro moths which included several species I hadn't seen since the summer. Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana is one I'd not seen anywhere near this late before and as it was fresh it must have been an unusual second-generation.  I had seen late Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana before but it's another one that the textbooks say should stop flying in August. Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis is another one that must be starting to have a second generation - this was my first in October while the Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis is a bit more established at this time of year.  The other micros were more expected: 4 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, North Elmham, 13th October

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 13th October

Bizarrely given the nunber of micros, macros were few and far between and every one of them was a noctuid (at least in old taxonomy).  At least with just singles of each it felt like there was some variety among them: Shuttle-shaped Dart, Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion, Beaded Chestnut, Barred Sallow, Large Wainscot, Burnished Brass, Straw Dot and Snout.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 13th October

There was some interest among the other insects too.  Two lacewings were both Chrysoperla but unusually only one was carnea, the other being Chrysoperla lucasina - just my third.  There weren't many caddisflies but they included my first ever Brown Sedges Anabolia nervosa, a male and a female, along with more usual Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus vittatus.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 13th October

Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa (male), North Elmham, 13th October

Bugs and beetles consisted of Pinalitus cervinus, 2 Kybos sp. (probably betulicola), Edwardsiana sp., Aphodius rufipes and Orange Ladybird.

Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 13th October