Melanic Magpie Moth

Firstly an update on my earlier post for 19th July - I have now amended this to reflect a re-identification of the moth I thought was probably Coleophora badiipennella.  I checked it with Jon Clifton who in turn checked it with Finnish expert Jukka Tabell and the answer is Buff Birch Case-bearer Coleophora milvipennis, a new species for me.

So on to 31st July when nearly 300 moths of 87 species included no species of huge significance.  The most exciting moth was the last one I found, after I had finished emptying the moth trap I found it clinging to the outside of it.  It was an extraordinary-looking thing and despite being quite unlike any I've ever seen it was immediately recognisable as a Magpie Moth, but presumably a melanic aberration.

Magpie Moth (melanic form), North Elmham, 31st July

Only Spruce Bud Moth Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana was new for the year, and that being so worn I would never have confidently identified it without first dissecting it.

Spruce Bud Moth Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 31st July

Other micros were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 4 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 44 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 4 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 3 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula nitidulata, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis and Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella.

The rest of the macros were Oak Hook-tip, 3 Chinese Characters, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 12 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, 2 Common Carpets, Dark Umber, 2 Small Rivulets, Wormwood Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Grey Pugs, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Border, 4 Scalloped Oaks, Peppered Moth, 4 Willow Beauties, Engrailed, 2 Clouded Silvers, Poplar Hawkmoth, 2 Swallow Prominents, Coxcomb Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 2 Rosy Footmen, 17 Dingy Footmen, 8 Scarce Footmen, 44 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 3 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 10 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Nutmeg, Brown-line Bright-eye, 2 Clays, 4 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Grey Daggers, Marbled Beauty, 2 Dun-bars, 3 Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 13 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Straw Dots, 2 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

Micromus variegatus was the only other insect I noted.


Next day this Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca was the only new moth for the year:

Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, North Elmham, 1st August

Other micros were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, Heather Tortrix Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, White-triangle Button Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 14 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.

The macros were 3 Pebble Hook-tips, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 14 Riband Waves, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, 4 Shaded Broad-bars, Small Phoenix, Small Rivulet, Yellow-barred Brindle, 2 Early Thorns, Purple Thorn, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, 4 Yellow-tails, Black Arches, 4 Dingy Footmen, 3 Scarce Footmen, 11 Common Footmen, Flame Shoulder, 9 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Nutmegs, Dot Moth, 3 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Dun-bars, 2 Dark Arches, 6 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and 2 Fan-foots.

 Samll Phoenix, North Elmham, 1st August

Black Arches, North Elmham, 1st August