Eucosma campoliliana

A rather attractive but unfamiliar moth appeared in my trap on the night of 12th June - my first Marbled Bell Eucosma campoliliana.

Marbled Bell Eucosma campoliliana, North Elmham, 12th June

Three macros that were new for the year here were all lookers too: Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Poplar Kitten and Beautiful Golden Y.  Not quite so pretty was the Cream Wave, new for the house.

Poplar Kitten, North Elmham, 12th June

Small Elephant Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 12th June

Beautiful Golden Y, North Elmham, 12th June

Cream Wave, North Elmham, 12th June

Numbers of Diamond-backs had dropped right off but there was another surge this night: I caught 124 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, comparable numbers to what I trapped around the peak around 31st May/1st June.

A good selection of other moths: Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Yellow-spot Tortrices Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 4 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 5 Common Swifts, 3 Blood-veins, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Carpet, Purple Bar, 2 Green Carpets, Foxglove Pug, Common Pug, Clouded Border, Brown Silver-line, Common White Wave, 2 Light Emeralds, Poplar Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, Shears, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 3 Brown Rustics, 4 Middle-barred Minors, 14 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, 2 Burnished Brasses, Spectacle and 4 Straw Dots.

I'm finding Mayfly identification a bit of a struggle even armed with the guide - so many don't show all the features given while other probably better features (like wing venation) aren't clearly enough described in the key to be of any use (for example how much of the wing is the "tip" when counting cross-veins?).  The relative length of foot segments should help differentiate Procloeon from various Cloeon species but I find this hard to judge on some individuals.  I think that at least one of 2 Mayflies recorded this night was Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum but the other I had to leave unidentified.

Pale Evening Dun Procloeon bifidum, North Elmham, 12th June

In contrast I find the guide to caddisflies excellent and very helpfully designed with features described and illustrated.  Some are still difficult though, and the genitalia don't always appear exactly as in the diagrams.  Nevertheless I am fairly happy with 2 new caddisflies identified from the trap: Rhyacophila dorsalis and Polycentropus flavomaculatus. There were also 3 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 4 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Polycentropus flavonmaculatus, North Elmham, 12th June

Rhyacophila dorsalis, North Elmham, 12th June

Hedenham Wood

Last year the Norfolk Moth Survey went to Tindall Wood in the Ditchingham Estate.  I can't remember why I couldn't, or didn't go, but recall thinking I would have liked to have been there when I heard what they saw.  This year NMS returned to the estate but targetting a different wood in a different tetrad - Hedenham Wood, and I made sure I was there.  Heavy rain prior to dusk brought the temperatures down which was a shame, but even so I think we were all surprised and a bit disappointed about quite how few moths there were.  Nevertheless there were some interesting moths making the trip worthwhile.

Two macros were my favourites, if not necessarily the best.  One was a Green Arches - not a species that was new to me but I've only seen a couple before and both were worn and almost more grey than green.  Not so with this verdant delight!

Green Arches, Hedenham Wood, 11th June

The second was a lifer for me, though if I counted moths that other people had trapped, potted and brought to me then I would have already counted it.  It was another very smart moth, an Alder Moth.

Alder Moth, Hedenham Wood, 11th June

Rarer than either of those was a micro, at least we think so but it is awaiting gen det to confirm.  It looks like Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana which would be a new one for me.

apparent (pending confirmation) Blotched Piercer Pammene albuginana, Hedenham Wood, 11th June

Highlights from the rest were Sandy Long-horn Nematopogon schwarziellus, New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella and 4 Brindled Tortrixes Ptycholoma lecheana.

Sandy Long-horn Nematopogon schwarziellus (gen det Ben Lewis), Hedenham Wood, 11th June

The rest were 20 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Yellow-spot Tortrixes Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, 2 Meadow Greys Scoparia pyralella, Gold Swift, 2 Common Swifts, Blood-vein, Flame Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, 2 Mottled Pugs, Common Pug, Brown Silver-line, Scorched Wing, 2 Pale Oak Beauties, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawkmoth, Marbled Brown, Lobster Moth, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, 2 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, 2 Clouded-bordered Brindles, Marbled Minor, 2 Middle-barred Minors, Treble Lines, Beautiful Golden Y, Straw Dot and Snout.  As always at these sorts of events the numbers are just what I could remember for sure - most would have been higher in reality.

Finally on the way home we found a moth in the car which turned out to be Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella.  This mainly Breckland species can only have come from the wood where I think it's a new species for the 10k square.

Quite a few Green Lacewings flying around, of which all those identified (mainly by Paul Cobb, this one by me) were Chrysopidia ciliata - a common species but with me being new to Lacewing ID it was new for me.

Chrysopidia ciliata, Hedenham Wood, 11th June

Also the odd Brown Lacewings, of which all those identified were Micromus paganus.

Three caddisflies were retained for ID - Limnephilus auricula is the caddis I've seen most of this year, Limnephilus affinis I've not seen nearly as often and Micropterna lateralis was one I had suspected in previous years but my first confirmed with a key.

Micropterna lateralis, Hedenham Wood, 11th June

At home that night several moths were new for the year, including Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Figure of Eighty, Willow Beauty, Elephant Hawkmoth, 3 Ingrailed Clays and Dusky Brocade.

Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, North Elmham, 11th June

Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, North Elmham, 11th June

Figure of Eighty, North Elmham, 11th June

Ingrailed Clay, North Elmham, 11th June

The rest of the crop were 30 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 3 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, 5 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 5 Common Swifts, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, Sandy Carpet, Mottled Pug, Grey Pug, Brown Silver-line, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Common Footman, 3 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Shears, Light Brocade, Common Wainscot, 3 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 5 Treble Lines and Straw Dot.

Until recenlty I've been finding my new venture of caddisfly identification refreshngly straightforward.  That has tended to be the case with the genus Limnephilus, though not always, and today's were 3 auricula, 3 lunatus and my first Limnephilus rhombicus this year. 

Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham, 11th June

Limnephilus lunatus, North Elmham, 11th June

Some of the other genera aren't so easy and I find female Hydropsyche a particular challenge.  I'm pretty sure most so far have been pellucidula, though right now I'm not feeling quite confident enough to submit the records.  One of today's four was a bit different, or so it seemed, and I have identified it, if slightly tentatively, as Hydropsyche siltalai. 

apparent Hydropsyche siltalai, North Elmham, 11th June

A Diamond without diamonds

The night of 9th June was an odd one.  Not all that many moths but still a good selection of micros.  New for the house was a species I am used to seeing during the day but not coming to light - Swan-feather Dwarf Elachista argentella.

Swan-feather Dwarf Elachista argentella, North Elmham, 9th June

Good counts were 6 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella and 5 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella while London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella was new for the year.  Other notable micros were Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella and Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella.

London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolelle, North Elmham, 9th June

Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, North Elmham, 9th June

The other micros were 9 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and Small Magpie Anania hortulata. Interestingly one of the Diamond-backs lacked a pale line down the dorsum or almost any trace of the diamonds.  The only hint was that the sides between the diamonds were darker than the rest of the sides of the wings.  I did dissect it just to make sure...

Dimaond-back Moth Plutella xylostella (female), North Elmham, 9th June

Among the macros only Common Footman was new for the year.  The others were 2 Common Swifts, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Mottled Pug, 3 Common Pugs, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Border, Waved Umber, 2 Light Emeralds, Poplar Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, 2 White Ermines, 5 Cinnabars, Shears, Light Brocade, 2 Brown Rustics, 9 Treble Lines and 2 Mottled Rustics.

Common Footman, North Elmham, 9th June

Waved Umber, North Elmham, 9th June

Only a couple of caddisflies but these included my first Limnephilus marmoratus (and a Limnephilus lunatus).

Limnephilus marmoratus (female), North Elmham, 9th June

I think this beetle found in the house is Cantharis cryptica.

Cantharis cryptica, North Elmham, 9th June

We're getting our garden done at the moment and in removing our old shed the gardener found a couple of mice.  One was a casualty which he put out of its misery but the other seemed ok so he showed me.  I'm not sure it was ok, as it's not very normal behaviour for a mouse to lie on its side in the open, but as dead as it looked it was definitely breathing.  A Wood Mouse I believe.

Wood Mouse, North Elmham, 10th June

It was a better night for moths with 45 species including Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella, Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Treble Brown Spots, Brown Silver-line, Heart and Club and Burnished Brass all new for the year.

Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, North Elmham, 10th June

Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th June

Obscure Groundling Bryotropha similis (male, gen det), North Elmham, 10th June

Barred Marble Celypha striana, North Elmham, 10th June

Heart and Club, North Elmham, 10th June

Burnished Brass, North Elmham, 10th June

Other moths were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 52 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 4 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 9 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 3 Common Swifts, Blood-vein, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 6 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 2 Broken-barred Carpets, Green Carpet, 3 Sandy Carpets, Mottled Pug, 7 Common Pugs, Brimstone Moth, 2 Light Emeralds, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Small Square-spot, 2 Shears, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 4 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 12 Treble Lines and Mottled Rustic.

A subimago Procloeon bifidum was a new Mayfly for me (a second invidivual was not positively identified).

Procloeon bifidum, North Elmham, 10th June

Also new was the caddisfly Polycentropus flavomaculatus - only at the time I posted this, and for 2-3 weeks after, I had it down as Polycentropus irroratus.  Females are quite difficult, at least for a novice, as after a few more I eventually concluded that the pointedness of the subgenital plate illustrated in the key is quite hard to determine, and looks rather more pointy in flavomaculatus than it's meant to.  The other caddis were in the genus Limnephilus including lunatus, marmoratus and vittatus.

Polycentropus flavomaculatus (female), North Elmham, 10th June

Marbled Coronet

During the afternoon of 8th June I added Common Nettle-tap Anthophilus fabiricana to the garden year list. A good selection of moths in the trap that night inlcuding 47 species.  Best was a Marbled Coronet, a species mainly recorded at the coast in Norfolk, though there are a good spread of odd records elsewhere.  Still very unexpected here.

Marbled Coronet, North Elmham, 8th June

Also new for the house (it's only my second summer) were Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella and Large Nutmeg.

Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, North Elmham, 8th June

Large Nutmeg, North Elmham, 8th June

New for the year at home were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Purple Bar, Common Wainscot, Straw Dot and Snout.

Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 8th June

Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae (female, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Snout, North Elmham, 8th June

Common Wainscot, North Elmham, 8th June

Other moths were 52 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Common Swifts, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 6 Green Carpets, 4 Sandy Carpets, Foxglove Pug, Mottled Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 2 Grey Pugs, Clouded Silver, 4 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Muslin Moth, 6 Cinnabars, 2 Heart and Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shears, Light Brocade, Lychnis, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Brown Rustic, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 2 Marbled Minors, 3 Tawny Marbled Minors, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, Vine's Rustic and Mottled Rustic.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 8th June

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 8th June

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 8th June

Vine's Rustic, North Elmham, 8th June

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 8th June

Caddisflies were represented by 4 species from the same genus.  Limnephilus flavicornis was the first I've identified and Limnephilus binotatus was my first this year (and first properly identified with a key).  The others were 3 Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus.

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 8th June

Limnephilus binotatus, North Elmham, 8th June

This Earwig was really small and I thought it must be something other than the Common Earwig which so far every Earwig I've identified has been.  Turns out, I think, that it's a juvenile Common Earwig.

 apparent juvenile Common Earwig, North Elmham, 8th June