The Common Grass Moths of Berkshire (VC22)

Berkshire Moth Group

Terminology Side view – typical resting posture The Common Grass Moths Apical Outer Two-thirds Half One-third Inner Towards or in region of apex. of Berkshire (VC22) Basal Tornus Palps Dorsum Towards or in region of base. Dorsal edge Base A guide to identification Costal l streak Termen Longitudina Towards or in region of costa; Costal edge Fringe costal edge: edge facing costa; Costa Introduction The Grass Moths (Crambinae) are represented by 39 species costal half: half of wing adjacent Apex to costa. Subterminal Cross-lines in the British Isles. Most are associated with grasses or rushes, cross-line Dorsal and can often be disturbed during the day, sometimes in Length measured from tip of wing to palps significant numbers. Towards or in region of dorsum; dorsal edge: edge facing dorsum; dorsal half: half of wing adjacent This guide covers the eleven species most commonly found Top view – wings spread in Berkshire (VC22). It should be possible to make a positive to dorsum. Fringe identification of all these species based on visual characteristics. Apex Subterminal Where there are similar species which are either uncommon or Long thin scales projecting beyond cross-line termen; also known as cilia. Cross-lines absent in the region the differences are described. Costa Inner Palps Towards head/base of wing. It will not be possible to identify all specimens unequivocally Termen Costal edge Longitudinal streak as there will always be oddities and worn individuals where Longitudinal Fringe there is room for doubt. Along length of wing, e.g. Dorsal edge longitudinal streak: streak running Base The species are grouped according to similar appearance, along length of wing Tornus Dorsum rather than in taxonomic order. Inset pictures are actual size. Oblique At an angle to costa or dorsum, i.e. Understanding Flight season (phenology) graphs Key to distribution maps neither parallel nor perpendicular to Hind wing Flight season wing edges. the data J FMAMJJASOND Tetrads (2 kilometre squares) in VC22 where the moth has been One half/one-third/two-thirds etc recorded. Approximate position along wing taken from base. Tetrads where any recording These show the number of records activity has occurred (i.e. at Outer from each month, as a percentage of least one record of any moth). Away from head/base of wing. the total (range 0-100%). Total number of records is also shown. Subterminal Key to text: Data is taken from the VC22 County Immediately before termen. Moth Records database and includes Status indicates national status. Terminal all records up to December 2008. Length is measured from palps to At end of wing; towards termen. Vernacular names wingtip, with wings closed. Tornal Taken from A Label and Checklist Classification numbers used are Towards or in region of tornus. of the British Micro-lepidoptera with Bradley & Fletcher. Vernacular Names by Jim Porter2. Not as yet widely used.

1 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Species comparisons Agriphila tristella Common Grass-veneer 1305

Flight season Flight season Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Length (mm) 0 10 20 J FMAMJJASOND Crambus lathoniellus Agriphila straminella 3 2 1 Length: 15-18.5mm Chrysoteuchia culmella Crambus lathoniellus VC22 distribution

Crambus pascuella Chrysoteuchia culmella 594 records

Crambus perlella Catoptria falsella

Agriphila straminella Catoptria pinella

Catoptria pinella Agriphila geniculea Status: Common. Habitat: Tall grasses. Often disturbed Catoptria falsella Crambus perlella by day. Comes to light. Distinctive features: Variation Agriphila selasella Crambus pascuella Strong longitudinal streak 1, Generally very variable both in ground often narrowing at one third 2, Agriphila inquinatella Agriphila inquinatella colour and strength of markings. splitting into four ‘fingers’3 .

Agriphila tristella Agriphila selasella Similar species

Agriphila geniculea Agriphila tristella 1

Graphs show percentage of records for each Bars indicate minimum and maximum month, on a scale of 0 to 100. lengths, although this is a guide only. If food sources are restricted (e.g. in © Ian Kimber drought conditions) smaller specimens A. selasella: Fingers less prominent. may well be found. Streak splits into two fingers1 rather than four. Termen rounded and roughly perpendicular to costa. Streak pure white, of uniform width. Generally smoother appearance.

2 3 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Agriphila selasella Pale-streak Grass-veneer 1303 Crambus perlella Satin Grass-veneer 1302

Flight season Flight season J FMAMJJASOND J FMAMJJASOND 1 Length: 12.5-17.5mm VC22 distribution VC22 distribution 71 records 179 records

3 2 © Ian Kimber Length: 14-19mm

Similar species Variation Status: Local. Status: Common/abundant. Ground colour quite variable. Habitat: Grass. Can be disturbed by Habitat: Tall grass. Very easily 1 f.warringtonellus day. Nocturnal. Comes to light. disturbed by day. Nocturnal. Distinctive features: Comes to light. Pure white longitudinal streak of Distinctive features: roughly even width 1 with dark Shiny white colour, lack of markings. costal edge 2 dividing into two © Jeff Higgott Variant f.warringtonellus ( ) has faint ‘fingers’ 3. Termen rounded, strong white longitudinal streak 1 A. tristella: ‘Fingers’ more prominent, perpendicular to costa. Smooth plus another streak along costa 2. four rather than two 1. Narrowing of appearance. 1 streak at one third. Termen straight, not perpendicular to costa. Rough 2 appearance. © Malcolm Storey

Similar species Variation Little variation in typical form. Some variation in strength of markings in f.warringtonellus.

A.straminella: Smaller size. More tapered overall shape.

4 5 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 1293 Agriphila straminella Straw Grass-veneer 1304

Flight season Flight season 1 J FMAMJJASOND 2 J FMAMJJASOND 2 Length: 11-15mm

VC22 distribution VC22 distribution 962 records 611 records 1

Similar species Variation © Richard Eagling

Status: Very common/abundant Ground colour and strength of Status: Common/abundant. markings very variable. ‘C’ shaped Habitat: Tall grasses. Frequently Habitat: Grasses, esp. Sheep’s cross-line can be rather faint but is disturbed by day. Comes to light. Fescue (Festuca ovina). Often 1 5 always visible. 3 Length: 9.5-12.5mm Distinctive features: disturbed by day. Flies by day and night. Comes to light, often in ‘C’ shaped outer cross-line numbers. (C for culmella) 1. Brassy metallic sheen. A.straminella: Smaller size. No Distinctive features: Fringe uniform colour 2. cross-lines. Small size. Lack of cross-lines. 1 © M.Parsons/Butterfly Conservation Fringe metallic, outer half lighter . Faint longitudinal streak 2. Often speckled with brown 3. Strongly tapered overall shape. 2 Male: Two-tone appearance – dorsal half of wing light, costal half dark 4. Similar species Variation Female: © Charly Streets Degree of brown speckling and Platytes cerussella (no records): More uniform in tone. overall colour quite variable . Much smaller (Length 6-8mm). Streak splitting into faint fingers5

C.perlella: Shiny appearance. Larger © Jeff Higgott size. More uniform breadth.

6 7 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Crambus pascuella Inlaid Grass-veneer 1294 Crambus lathoniellus Hook-streak Grass-veneer 1301

Flight season Flight season J FMAMJJASOND J FMAMJJASOND 4 6 2 Length: 13-16mm Length: 11-14mm 2 VC22 distribution VC22 distribution 334 records 189 records

1 3 4 5 5 1 3 © Jan Haseler

Status: Common/very common Status: Common. © Mike Wall Habitat: Grasses and bushes. Easily Variation Habitat: Tall grasses. Easily disturbed 7 disturbed by day. Comes to light by day. Nocturnal. Comes to light. Distinctive features: Distinctive features: Thick, white longitudinal streak 1, Longitudinal streak 1, notched dorsal edge more or less straight 2, halfway along 2, costal edge fairly costal edge angled at two-thirds 3, straight 3. Strong, sharply bent broken by thin oblique brown line 4. subterminal line with dark inner edge Triangularly shaped and marked apex Ground colour, and hence apparent strength of markings, fairly variable. 4. Triangularly shaped and marked 5. Hind wing pale. apex 5. Hind wing dark. Male: Streaks between veins greyish Similar species 6. Wing speckled with blackish scales. Variation Female: Streaks between veins white 1 7, fewer dark scales on wings, Overall colour quite variable. In male, blackish speckling varies in intensity. hence much paler overall appearance than male. 1 1 2 © Jan Haseler © Paul Harris © Jens Christian Schou Similar species C.lathoniellus: Narrow, notched Crambus silvella (1 unconfirmed Crambus uliginosellus (5 records in 1 longitudinal streak, costal edge record): Streak rounded not angular, Baker): Smaller size. Longitudinal See previous page for photographs. fairly straight 2. Less pronounced extending beyond subterminal line 1. streak touches costa to half way 1. C.pascuella: Longitudinal streak triangular apex. Hind wing dark. broad, not notched. Hind wing pale. Crambus hamella (4 records): Longitudinal streak unbroken. Crambus silvella (1 unconfirmed record): Longitudinal streak broad, © Richard Eagling © Mathias Biere 1 © Rob Petley-Jones without notch. Crambus hamella (4 records): Crambus pratella (no records): Crambus pratella (no records): Costal Longitudinal streak unbroken. Longitudinal streak with sharply Crambus ericella (no records; edge of longitudinal streak sharply angled costal edge 1, notched in northern moorland only): Much angled at about two-thirds. a similar way to C.lathoniellus. Hind darker. Longitudinal streak narrower, wing dark. well-separated from costa. Crambus ericella: See previous page.

8 9 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Agriphila inquinatella Barred Grass-veneer 1306 Agriphila geniculea Elbow-striped Grass-veneer 1309

Flight season Flight season J FMAMJJASOND J FMAMJJASOND 3 2 1 4 3 1 Length: 14-18mm

VC22 distribution VC22 distribution 230 records 387 records

2 Length: 12.5-15.5mm

Status: Local Similar species Variation Status: Common. Similar species Variation Habitat: Short grass. Easily disturbed Habitat: Grasses. Can be found at by day. Active from dusk onwards. rest in young conifer bushes among 1 Some variation in overall darkness. Comes to light. grass. Readily disturbed by day. Distinctive features: Comes to light. Strong, dark patch 1 in middle of 1 Distinctive features: white longitudinal streak 2. Two distinct cross lines 1, outer line Curved, outer cross-line, broken by strongly elbowed toward termen 2. A. geniculea: Sharply elbowed outer Ground colour variable both in colour A.inquinatella: Outer cross-line more branches of longitudinal streak 3. Overall coloration greyish brown. cross-line 1. Usually smaller, and tone. Markings variable in rounded and broken by branches of Black subterminal dots 4. Fringe metallic 3. although size ranges overlap. intensity. longitudinal streak 1. Usually larger, Overall coloration straw. 1 although size ranges overlap.

© Richard Eagling Pediasia contaminella (5 records): Pediasia© Richard Eagling contaminella (5 records): Rests with head down, abdomen Rests with abdomen raised upward raised upward (as P.aridella below). (as P.aridella on previous page). Spot in place of dark patch 1. Lacks elbowed cross-line. Pediasia aridella (no records): Lacks elbowed cross-line. Habitat coastal saltmarsh only. See previous page for photograph.

10 11 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Catoptria pinella Pearl Grass-veneer 1313 Catoptria falsella Chequered Grass-veneer 1316

Flight season Flight season J FMAMJJASOND 1 J FMAMJJASOND 3 2

VC22 distribution VC22 distribution 94 records 182 records

2 1

Length: 12-16mm © Richard Eagling Length: 11.5-15.5mm Status: Local. Status: Local. Similar species Variation Habitat: Found during day amongst Habitat: Hides in moss, thatch or Similar species Variation trees and bushes, particularly pine. Catoptria permutatella (only in Very little variation. haystacks by day. Nocturnal. Nocturnal. Comes to light. Scotland), Catoptria osthelderi (only Comes to light. Strength of markings quite variable. one UK record, Kent) and Catoptria Distinctive features: Distinctive features: speculalis (only one UK record, Perth) Broad, widening longitudinal streak Strong white longitudinal streak 1 all have thin white outer band beyond 1, cut by slightly oblique dark brown broken by strong dark brown oblique end of streak. cross-line 2. band 2. White ‘c’ shaped arc in 3 outer half . © Jan Haseler Thisanotia chyrysonuchella (14 records): First cross-line much thinner. Outer cross-line thin and less elbowed. Scattered black scales, particularly in dorsal half.

12 13 Berkshire Moth Group Pyralidae: Crambinae Other species recorded in VC22

© Steve Barrett Chilo phragmitella Reed Veneer 1290 Further information Acknowledgments Photographs June–July in reed beds. 4 records on database between 1989 and 1998, Goater B. British Pyralid Moths. Editorial team from Thatcham Reed Beds, Cholsey Marsh and Fernham; Baker1 mentions an Unless indicated otherwise, Harley Books, Colchester, UK. 1986. old record (pre-1906) from Bulmershe Park, Reading. Nick Asher, Mark Calway, photographs © Nick Asher. Baker B.R. The Butterflies and Moths Roy Dobson, Les Finch, Grahame Hawker. Other photographs contributed by: Calamotropha paludella Bulrush Veneer 1292 of Berkshire. Hedera Press, Uffington, UK. 1994. Compiled with assistance and expert Steve Barrett July–August in reed beds. 51 records on database between 1992 and 2006; advice from Norman Hall, Tony Davis Mathias Biere, Baker1 mentions records from Didcot, Dinton Pastures and Sandford Mill. http://ukmoths.org.uk/ and Martin Harvey, and with help Richard Eagling Recorded occasionally in North Hampshire. Nationally scarce/Nb. http://www.uklepidoptera.co.uk/ from all the members of Berkshire Jan Haseler Paul Harris © Jeff Higgott http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk Moth Group. Jeff Higgott Distribution maps and flight period Crambus silvella Wood Grass-veneer 1296 (www.uklepidoptera.co.uk) charts based on data from the July–August. 1 unconfirmed record on database from Silwood Park, 2003. References Ian Kimber (www.ukmoths.org.uk), county database, compiled and Red Data Book 3: Rare Mark Parsons/Butterfly Conservation, 1. Baker BR. The Butterflies and maintained by Martin C. Harvey, Rob Petley-Jones Moths of Berkshire. Hedera Berkshire County Moth Recorder, © Paul Harris Jens Christian Schou Press, Uffington, UK. 1994. from records submitted by a (www.biopix.dk), multitude of enthusiastic amateur Crambus uliginosellus Marsh Grass-veneer 1297 2. Porter, J. A Label and Checklist Chris Steeman (www.phegea.org), 1 of the British Micro-lepidoptera recorders. Martin would be pleased June–July. No records on database. 5 records in Baker from Eaton Wood Malcolm Storey with Vernacular Names. Privately to receive any further records of (1983), Snelsmore Common (1982), Crowthorne, Wellington College grounds (www.bioimages.org.uk) © Jens Christian Schou published. 2002. moths in Berkshire. Martin can be (1983) and Silwood Park (1971). Nationally scarce/Nb. Charly Streets contacted by e-mail: kitenetter@ © Richard Eagling Mike Wall (www.hantsmoths.org.uk), Crambus hamella Dark Grass-veneer 1299 googlemail.com Nigel Whinney Mid-July–August. 6 records on database between 1997 and 2006, from 1 Mortimer, Wildmoor Heath and Swinley Brick Pits. Records in Baker from Every effort has been made to Aldermaston (1987) and Wellington College (1983). Several recent records contact the copyright holders of from North Hampshire. Nationally scarce/Nb. photographs. In some cases this © Jan Haseler Agriphila latistria White-streak Grass-veneer 1307 has so far proved impossible. July–August. 10 records on database between 1996 and 2006, from Berkshire Moth Group Mortimer, Earley, Windsor Forest, Padworth and Swinley Brick Pits. Baker1 mentions records from Aldermaston (1985, 1986 and 1990), Earley (1978) www.berkshiremothgroup.co.uk and Silwood park (1971). Recorded in North Hampshire. Enquiries about this publication should be addressed to: Thisanotia chrysonuchella Powdered Grass-veneer 1321 Nick Asher May–June. 14 records on database between 1997 and 2007, all from the Streatley area, 13 from Lardon Chase, one from Moulsford Downs. Baker1 e-mail: [email protected] mentions Moulsford Downs, Streatley and Unhill Wood. Nationally scarce/Nb.

Pediasia contaminella Waste Grass-veneer 1323 5 records on database from 2002 onwards. Locations: Mortimer, Chawridge Bank. Baker1 mentions records from Owlsmoor and Silwood Park in recent © Richard Eagling years, and Sandhurst in 1952. Probably under-recorded/overlooked. Several records from North Hampshire. Nationally scarce/Nb.

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