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

Moulting mayflies, a new beetle, another Thatch Neb and a Pied Smudge

A quick moth-trapping session at the meadows on 28th August produced a nice selection of moths: Skin Moth Monopis laevigella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis corylana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Chinese Character, Common Carpet, 4 Brimstone Moths, Heart and Dart, 3 Flame Shoulders, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 5 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Six-striped Rustics, 20 Square-spot Rustics, Nutmeg, Common Wainscot, 6 Centre-barred Sallows, 2 Copper Underwings, 4 Vine's Rustics, Straw Dot and Snout.

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th August

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th August

There were 4 mayflies which I think were all Pale Wateries Baetis fuscatus. I took a sub-imago male and female home to check and both emerged into imagos the following day.

Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus (male sub-imago top photo, moulted to imago in other photos), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th-29th August

Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus (female sub-imago top photo, moulted to imago in lower photo), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th-29th August

There were quite a lot of caddisflies, most of which I didn't retain for checking (for example there were loads of Hydropsyche sp.).  The ones I did identify were Ithytrichia lamellaris, Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, 2 Small Silver Sedges Lepidostoma hirtum, 6 Limnephilus lunatus, Molanna angustata and 3 Athripsodes albifrons.

Ithytrichia lamellaris (male), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th August

Polycentropus flavomaculatus (male), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th August

I only identified two beetles, a Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes and a species I'd never recorded before, Cymbiodyta marginellus.

Cymbiodyta marginellus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th August

The highlight of my garden trap that night was my eighth Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella and third of the year.  It is, however, the first time I cannot claim a monopoly of this species in Norfolk as were, at last, two more records from other locations in Norfolk in 2018.

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 28th August

Other moths were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 6 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Orange Swifts, 2 Small Dusty Waves, Brimstone Moth, Engrailed, Light Emerald, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Antler Moth, 3 Common Wainscots, 9 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Straw Dot and Snout.

There was also one mayfly: Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.  Caddisflies were Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai and 3 Limnephilus lunatus. There was also a Hornet.

The following night the best moth was found in the garden at dusk: new for the year, Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella.

Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella, North Elmham, 29th August

Moths caught in the trap were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 4 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Small Dusty Wave, Brimstone Moth, Common Wave, Large Yellow Underwing, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Common Wainscot, 8 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic, Straw Dot and Snout.

Other insects were Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum (mayfly), Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus (caddisfly) and Ilybius fuliginosus (water beetle).

Small Purple Flat-body (Agonopterix purpurea)

Best moth on 11th September was an early Large Wainscot.  Thought it would turn out to be a plain-looking Bulrush Wainscot given the date but (a) they don't seem to ever be this plain, (b) it looks ok for Large and (c) apparently it's not too early for Large, although by far my earliest ever.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 11th September

Otherwise it was pretty quiet: 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, 4 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 2 Frosted Oranges, 3 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and 7 Snouts.

Things picked up dramatically the next evening.  Even before starting on what was inside the trap I'd found 52 moths of 15 species round the outside.  Two moths were new for the garden: the wonderful Pied Smudge Ypsolopha sequella and Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella.

Pied Smudge Yposolopha sequella, North Elmham, 12th September

Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella, North Elmham, 12th September

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana and Lunar Underwing were also new for the year.

Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, North Elmham, 12th September

There are a small number of moths that I used to get at the old house at Bawdeswell in much greater numbers than I do here at North Elmham.  Small Dusty Wave is one with, for example 177 recorded on 59 dates in 2013, compared to just singles recorded on 8 dates at North Elmham in 2015.  I've done fractionally better this year but a count of 5 Small Dusty Waves on 11th was quite unexpected here.  A count of 20 Common Marbled Carpets was equally unexpected, more than doubling my previous best.  Another count that came close to double my previous best was 16 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana.

The remainder consisted of Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella, White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 6 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 7 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 8 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Grey Pine Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, 11 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, 9 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 15 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 2 Straw Dots and 27 Snouts.

Other things in the trap included 2 Hemerobius lutescens (a Brown Lacewing), 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Forest Bug and my first Orange Ladybird here this year.

 Orange Ladybird, North Elmham, 12th September

Two moths were new for the year the following night: Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana and Sallow.

Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana, North Elmham, 13th September

Sallow, North Elmham, 13th September

The rest were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 6 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 9 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 13 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Small Blood-vein, 5 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, 5 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 5 Light Emeralds, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Common Wainscots, Copper Underwing, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, 3 Straw Dots and 17 Snouts.

Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Hornet and Common Wasp were among the other inhabitants of my trap while a Small Tortoiseshell had flown into my study earlier in the day.

A trip to the local patch on 14th September produced lots of occupied mines of Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli.  Also Southern Hawker, Common Darters, the Brown Lacewing Hemerobius lutescens, 2 Speckled Woods, 30 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and the hoverfly Eristalis tenax.

Eristalis tenax, Bittering, 14th September

Although there weren't many moths that night one of them was a welcome lifer, Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea.

Small Purple Flat-body Agonopterix purpurea, North Elmham, 14th September

The others were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 9 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 24 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, Small Blood-vein, 3 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 2 Light Emeralds, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 3 Common Wainscots, 2 Lunar Underwings, 3 Flounced Rustics, 2 Rosy Rustics, Frosted Orange, 3 Straw Dots and 6 Snouts.

A visit to Burnham Overy on 15th was mainly for birds rather than insects, which is lucky as the dank conditions weren't good for the latter.  I did manage 3 Carnation Tortrixes Cacoecimorpha pronubana though.  Also a Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar in Holkham Pines rolling around manically and looking pretty ugly for a hawk-moth.

Pine Hawk-moth caterpillar, Holkham Pines, 15th September

I think this has to be Crab Brittlegill but please correct me if I'm wrong.  (*Edit* Thanks to James for pointing out that while this is probably correct it could be something else, e.g. Bloody Brittlegill - see his comment below.  At least it was a Brittlegill... I must be improving!)

probable Crab Brittlegill, Holkham Pines, 15th September

That night the moth trap contained Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Single-dotted Wave, Flame Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, 8 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, 5 Lunar Underwings, Flounced Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Straw Dot and 5 Snouts.

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 15th September

I used to see lots coming to light at my last house but this Hawthorn Shieldbug in the trap was my first in over 2 years at North Elmham.  Also 2 Birch Shieldbugs and 2 Hornets.

Hawthorn Shieldbug, North Elmham, 15th September