Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Smudges (Ypsolophidae)

SMUDGES (YPOSOLOPHIDAE)


Spindle Smudge Ypsolopha mucronella - None.  I caught 2 here in 2015 but they're starting to become a distant memory.  At the time they were the first vice-county records although there have been quite a few since.


Hooked Smudge Ypsolopha nemorella - One trapped in my garden on 16th July 2019 was my first here, and only my second anywhere.

Hooked Smudge Yposolopha nemorella, North Elmham, 16th July 2019

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella - One trapped in my garden on 8th August 2019 and then an exceptional 8 caught between 16th July and 16th August 2020.  I've recorded this species at home every year since 2014 apart from 2015, but before 2018 (when there were 3), never more than one a year.  Elsewhere one at Foxley Wood on 10th July 2020.

Honeysuckle Moth Yposolopha dentella, North Elmham, 8th August 2019

Honeysuckle Moth Yposolopha dentella, Foxley Wood, 10th July 2020

Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella - Totals of 8 caught here between 16th July and 30th August 2019 and 4 between 18th July and 21st August 2020.  I'd caught 8 here in 2018 but only 2 in each of the years 2014-2017.  Also one next door in 2019 and 2 at the meadows in each year.

Wainscot Smudge Yposolopha scabrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Dark Smudge Ypsolopha horridella - None.  I've caught this species here twice, in 2017 and 2018.


Barred Smudge Ypsolopha alpella - 2 at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019, my second record of this species following one at home in 2016.

Barred Smudge Yposolopha alpella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Wood Smudge Ypsolopha sylvella - None.  I'm yet to see this species but there have been quite a few recent records from widespread locations so I should be in with a chance of finding it round here sooner or later.


White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parentheslla - One in the garden on 5th September 2020.  I've now caught 7 here since 2014 but all of them in even years.  Elsewhere about 20 at Swanton Great Wood and one at Row Heath (West Runton) in late August 2019, the Swanton Great Wood total being far and away the most I've ever seen in a single night.

male White-shouldered Smudge Yposolopha parenthesella, North Elmham, 5th September 2020

Variable Smudge Ypsolopha ustella - None.  I've only ever caught one here, in 2015.  I recorded it more often at Bawdeswell (3-4 2011-2013).


Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella - One in the garden on 10th August 2020, my third here following individuals in 2016 and 2018.  Elsewhere one in my next door neighbour's garden on 10th August 2019 and one at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020.

Pied Smudge Yposolopha sequella, North Elmham, 10th August 2020

Elm Smudge Yposolopha vittella - None.  I'm still waiting for my first.


Feathered Stem-moth Ochsenheimeria taurella - None.  I've never found any of the Ochsenheimeria species myself but Rob Yaxley brought me one to determine.  He found this species at two locations using his suction trap, not a method often deployed by moth-ers!

male Feathered Stem-moth Ochstenheimeria taurella from Hempton Marshes, 17th July 2020 (caught by Rob Yaxley)

Next page: Plutellidae

Garden Garden Tiger

There were two additions to the garden list on Tuesday 18th July, both very distinctive species.  The first was the beautifully-marked Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, a species I've encoutered at a few sites but never at home until now.

Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, North Elmham, 18th July

The second was another easily recognised species, once common in gardens but sadly now quite rare across much of the county.  It remains common in the Broads and along the north coast but is now much less frequently encountered elsewhere, so I was very pleased to get one at home - a Garden Tiger.

Garden Tiger, North Elmham, 18th July

Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, Grey Poplar Bell Epinotia nisella and White-spotted Pug were new for the year here.

Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, North Elmham, 18th July

Grey Poplar Bell Epinotia nisella, North Elmham, 18th July

White-spotted Pug, North Elmham, 18th July

Other highlights included Grey-streaked Smudge Plutella porrectella, Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella and no less than 5 Elephant Hawk-moths.

Other moths were 2 Bird’s-nest Moths Tinea trinotella, 2 Horse Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 3 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 6 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 17 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 4 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 28 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, 3 Chinese Characters, Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, Least Carpet, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Small Rivulet, Currant Pug, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Brimstone Moth, 4 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, 2 Yellow-tails, Black Arches, 2 Rosy Footmen, 12 Dingy Footmen, 5 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 11 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Ruby Tigers, Heart and Dart, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Double Square-spots, 4 Nutmegs, Smoky Wainscot, Grey Dagger, 2 Dun-bars, 4 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 5 Dusky Sallows, 3 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

The micro caddisfly Ithytrichia lamellaris was a first for me.

Ithytrichia lamellaris (female), North Elmham, 18th July

A good selection of other caddisflies included Oxyethira falcata, Ecnomus tenellus, 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 2 Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus sparsus and  Ceraclea dissimilis.

There were a few lacewings too: 2 Cunctochrysa albolineata, 9 Dichochrysa flavifrons, 2 Micromus variegatus.  Mayflies included 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and a Blue-winged Olive Serratella ignita.  The only beetle was an Orange Ladybird.

Dark Spinach and Phyllonorycter corylifoliella

My last post referred to a mid-August lull and 17th August was still in that lull with relatively few moths.  But one of them was a Dark Spinach, a lifer for me, so I wasn't complaining.

Dark Spinach, North Elmham, 17th August

Other species recorded that night were Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 4 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 4 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Maple Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Coxcomb Prominent, Black Arches, Ruby Tiger, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, Square-spot Rustic, 7 Flounced Rustics, Rustic, Silver Y, Spectacle and 10 Straw Dots.

 Maple Pug (female, gen det), North Elmham, 17th August

Several wasps in the trap too, at least one of which was Common Wasp.

The following night produced Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Blood-vein, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, 3 Common Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Ruby Tiger, 5 Flame Shoulders, 6 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Flounced Rustics, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 11 Straw Dots and Snout.

For the first time in a while I took a closer look at some of the caddis in the trap, partly because I could see straight away that one of them was new for the year.  It's such a distinctive species that I had identified them in previous years without the use of a key, but having said that there are a couple of quite similar species so it was good to confirm one properly now - Athripsodes albifrons.

Athripsodes albifrons (female), North Elmham, 18th August

The other caddis I retained proved to be male Hydropsyche siltalai and female Polycentropus irroratus.  I had thought I'd identified the latter species early on in the year but subsquently decided it had been Polycentropus flavomaculatus, as all the subsequent ones I checked seemed to be flavomaculatus too.  They're not easy, so possible I have made mistakes with some, but I had a very careful look at this one's subgenital plate having thoroughly cleaned it in potassium hydroxide, and am satisfied it was irroratus.

Polycentropus irroratus (female), North Elmham, 18th August

This leafhopper is a Kybos sp. but I'm not sure I can positively say which one.  I suspect Kybos betulicola.

Kybos sp., probably Kybos betulicola, North Elmham, 18th August

The highlight on 19th August was my first Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella.  It's actually a very common species with loads of records of its leafmines, but adults are a little harder to find.

 Hawthorn Midget Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

Other moths that night were Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 7 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, Orange Swift, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Common Carpets, Small Rivulet, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Black Arches, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Straw Underwing, Common Rustic, 5 Flounced Rustics and 14 Straw Dots. Earlier in the day there had been a Silver Y feeding in the garden.

There were still only 30 species on 20th August, but these included 3 new for the year so I guess that was a sign of things improving.  Those were Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis and Mouse Moth.

Wainscot Smudge Yposolopha scabrella, North Elmham, 20th August

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 20th August

Mouse Moth, North Elmham, 20th August

The others that night were 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 12 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Pebble Hook-tip, Riband Wave, Common Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Swallow Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 5 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 8 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spotted Clay, Six-striped Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Flounced Rustic, Spectacle and 7 Straw Dots.