Norfolk Survey c/o Natural History Dept., Castle Museum, Norwich, NR1 3JU Newsletter No.86 November 2014 INTRODUCTION

Opinion seems to be divided over whether this has been a good year for or not! Certainly there has been much of interest, but that seems to have depended on local conditions – and they have varied considerably across the county and across the season. The mild autumn definitely brought some unusual sightings, with some species, such as Rosy Footman (and, indeed, other Footman species) producing unexpected extra broods in late October and early November.

No fewer than ten –or possibly just eight! - new records for Norfolk were added during the year. The majority of these are species that seem to be spreading north with changing climatic conditions. However, two have slightly different background stories – Epinotia cinereana has only recently been given full species status, having been regarded previously as a form of E.nisella. Confusion surrounds the possible nineteenth century records of Endothenia ustulana, but we now have a definitely confirmed specimen in 2014.

At least two more of the additions were migrants – Silvery Gem was not only a first for Norfolk, but also only the second for Britain. Meanwhile, a search for rare migrant birds on the north coast resulted in the surprise sighting of the county’s first Crimson Speckled. Some recorders complained of a generally poor year for migrants, CONTENTS: while others deemed it quite exciting, with a good range of species, including Introduction Ken Saul page 1 large numbers of Rusty-dot Pearl Udea CMR’s Report Jim Wheeler page 2 ferrugalis reported in the autumn. As Can I borrow a boat? Jim Wheeler page 4 usual, Dave Hipperson has compiled a list of migrants received so far. Norfolk Migrants list Dave Hipperson page 5 Field Meetings 2014:- There were also several new vice-county Weston Park – 3 May Phil Heath page 11 records and first post-Victorian records. Barrow Common – 31 May Rob Lee page 12 Further details of all these, as well as the new county ones, can be found in Grimes Graves – 28 June Dave Appleton page 13 Jim Wheeler’s County Moth Recorder’s Gawdy Hall Big Wood 5 July Dick Jones page 13 report later in this newsletter. Upton Fen – 26 July Jon Clifton page 14

Despite all of this, one can say with Wheatfen – 16 August Brian Jones page 14 certainty that, sadly, overall numbers of Bryant’s Heath – 23 & 30 August Stewart Wright page 15 moths have declined significantly since Horsey Mere– 27 September Phil Heath page 16 NMS was launched in the nineteen- eighties. The precise reasons for this Betty’s Fen – 11 October Ken Saul page 16 remain complex and a cause for Psychoides verhuella Paul Cobb page 17 concern. Silvery Gem in Norfolk Richard Eagling page 17

All of our field meetings were fairly Splendours of Nature Sini Tipper page 17 successful events, although we ended Epermenia aequidentellus Brian Jones page 18 up doing one twice! As you can read Crimson Speckled James Lowen page 19 later, a confusion of dates with the locals meant that we visited Bryant’s Norfolk Moths Website details page 20 Heath on two successive weekends. Photographs page 21 This actually proved fortuitous, insofar as the first attempt saw very cold

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 1 of 22 temperatures and very few moths. Woodland moths were the target for National Moth Night in early July and we paid our first group visit to Gawdy Hall Big Wood. If you trapped elsewhere over that weekend, don’t forget to send in your results. Many thanks to everyone who came along and helped or supported at the various field trips.

Thanks are also due to all the authors of the different reports and articles in this newsletter. Without your efforts the newsletter wouldn’t exist. In the light of that, we would again appeal for articles for inclusion, especially for the spring editions when we tend not to have so much news to report. If you would just like to tell us about mothing on your local patch or in your garden, that would be very welcome. While on the subject of the newsletter, it may not be generally realised that monies received for it also help to support the Norfolk Moths website. With increasing numbers of people reading it online, the financing may be something we will need to look at in the future. Please let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas about all this.

After giving it a miss earlier this year, we have decided to organise another indoor meeting for next spring. Our good friend Matthew Deans, from the Suffolk Moth Group, has kindly agreed to give us an illustrated talk on Migrant Moths of East Anglia. This will take place on Tuesday 14 April 2015 at 7.30 pm in the Orchard Room at Mangreen Hall, TG215030. Please put the date in your diaries now and come along and join us. In order to cover costs we have to make a charge of £3 for this meeting, but that does include a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of home-made cake.

Finally, as always, a big thank you to all of you for your help, support and enthusiasm for continuing to record the moths of Norfolk.

Ken Saul

COUNTY RECORDER’S REPORT Please find listed below a selection of notable records taken from data that has been sent to me so far this year. The 2014 list includes eight species new for Norfolk (possibly ten), plus two new for Vice-county 28 (West Norfolk) and five new for Vice-county 27 (East Norfolk). The list also includes several species recorded this year that were last listed by C.G. Barrett in Victorian times, plus a couple of extra records from last year (2013). The New for Norfolk and Post Victorian Norfolk records in more detail:

Yponomeuta irrorella (Scarce Ermine) - New for Norfolk. A scarce and local species, occurring in southern and south-eastern England. New for Norfolk in 2013 (not identified until Aug 2014) at Cley-next-the-Sea VC27. (I. Walker, 30/07/13) Amphisbatis incongruella (Ling Tubic) – Post Victorian Norfolk. Plain looking small moth, the males flying on sunny days. New modern-day record of a male taken at Dersingham in 2014 (01/04/14 Gen. Det. R. Jones) Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula – Post Victorian Norfolk. A spectacular adult moth was bred from a single caterpillar was found in a ladies lavatory at Martham in 2014, the only modern-day record, of unconfirmed provenance, in Norfolk. (D. Holman, C. Stean 09/04/14) Psychoides verhuella (Hart's-tongue Smut) - New for Norfolk. Several specimens where collected and bred from Phyllitis scolopendrium (Hart's-tongue Fern) in a Heacham garden. (P. Cobb, collected 10/04/14, emerged 13/05/14 – Gen. Det. (Male + Female) J. Wheeler) Adult moths are day-flying and similar to the other fern feeding Psychoid, P. filicivora, but show a violet tinge and lack the white tornal spot. Lampronia luzella (Wood Bright) – Post Victorian Norfolk. Found very locally in woodland throughout Britain, a specimen was netted at Ashwellthorpe VC27 in 2014 (A. Musgrove, 10/05/14) Diplopseustis perieresalis (Eastern Black Tabby) - New for Norfolk. The first record of this species in Britain is from Tresco, Isles of Scilly in 2001. All UK specimens are thought to be either migrants or introduced through accidental importation of plants from Asia. No

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 2 of 22

Jim Wheeler

NORFOLK MIGRANT RECORDS PROVISIONAL LIST FOR 2014

Listed in the chart below are the migrant species records for 2014 received, up to 5th November, by our County Recorder. I have not listed the common migrants such as Silver Y, Dark Sword-grass, Plutella xylostella, & Nomophila noctuella. White-point records are not listed as we are not able to say which records are migrants and not residents. The records are for single adult moths unless given otherwise in the notes column.

Date Vernacular Name Taxon Site Recorder Method Notes 07-Aug Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos Thompson L. Lawes Day Obs Larval 05-Oct Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli Filby K.Saul Day Obs 24-Sep Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 29-Sep Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 28-Sep Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli Moulton St M. R. Powell Day Obs Larval B. Jones, K. 07-Jun Red-necked Footman rubricollis St. Olaves MV & Actinic 6 Knights B. Jones, K. 07-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis St. Olaves MV & Actinic 6 Knights B. Jones, K. 22-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Ashby Warren MV & Actinic 7 Knights B. Jones, K. 03-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Ashby Warren MV & Actinic 0 Knights B. Jones, K. 18-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Herringfleet Hills MV & Actinic Knights B. Jones, K. 18-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Herringfleet Hills MV & Actinic Knights 05-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Hockham Woods C. Knott Day Obs 04-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Lyng C. Sayer MV 2 12-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Selbrigg D. Appleton MV 2 24-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Kelling Heath D. Evans MV 2 09-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Methwold G. Geen MV 6 13-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Methwold G. Geen MV 20-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Methwold G. Geen MV 20-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis North Walsham G. White MV 17-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Dersingham Bog NNR J. Hodgkinson MV 09-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Stow Bardolph K. Leighton Day Obs 23-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Sheringham M. Webster Day Obs 6 11-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Scolt Head Island N. Lawton MV 07-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Sandringham R. Evan Jones MV 16-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Hockwold R.. Dyke MV 12-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Salle S. Barbato MV

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 5 of 22 04-Jul Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Salle S. Barbato MV 08-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Cockley Cley S. Pennell Day Obs 01-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Thompson Water S. Youngs Day Obs 3 07-Jun Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Thompson Water S. Youngs Day Obs 3 09-Aug Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Thompson Water S. Youngs Day Obs Larval 16-Aug Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Thompson Common S. Youngs Day Obs Larval 19-Sep Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis Winterton S. Youngs Day Obs Larval 29-Jul Tree- Beauty Cryphia algae Ashill D.Barrett MV 30-Jul Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hockwold K. Puttick MV 22-Jul Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hockwold R. Dyke MV 24-Jul Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hockwold R. Dyke MV 30-Jul Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hockwold R. Dyke MV 28-Jul Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hemsby R. Irvine MV 02-Aug Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hemsby R. Irvine MV 02-Aug Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae Hemsby R. Irvine MV 28-Jul Cydia amplana Dersingham J. Hodgkinson MV 10-Jun Diplopseustis perieresalis Bawdeswell D. Appleton MV 20-Sep Duponchelia fovealis Overstrand G. Bond MV 20-Sep Duponchelia fovealis Overstrand GreG. Bond MV 25-Oct Duponchelia fovealis New Costessey M. Casey MV 01-Sep Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore MV 20-Jun Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria Methwold G. Geen MV 01-Sep Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria Dersingham J. Hodgkinson MV 31-Aug Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria Marshland Fen K. Tarsey to light 23-Jul Silvery Gem Eucarta virgo Weybourne R. Eagling MV 14-Jul Great Brocade Eurois occulta Lyng C. Sayer MV 27-Jul Great Brocade Eurois occulta Ingoldisthorpe R. Roche MV 05-Aug Evergestis extimalis Great Yarmouth B. Jones MV & Actinic 2 03-Aug Evergestis extimalis Overstrand G. Bond MV 26-Jun Evergestis extimalis Methwold G. Geen MV 14-Jul Evergestis extimalis Methwold G. Geen MV 18-Jul Evergestis extimalis North Walsham G. White MV 16-Jul Evergestis extimalis Dersingham J. Hodgkinson MV 10-Jun Evergestis extimalis Stow Bardolph K. Leighton MV 23-Jun Evergestis extimalis Stow Bardolph K. Leighton MV 27-Jul Evergestis extimalis Claxton M. Cocker Day Obs 20-Jul Evergestis extimalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 20-May Evergestis extimalis Hockwold K. Puttick MV 31-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera West Runton A. Duff Actinic 30-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Dersingham J. Hodgkinson Actinic 16-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 17-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Weybourne R. Eagling MV 23-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Hemsby R. Irvine MV 3 25-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Hemsby R. Irvine MV 28-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Hemsby R. Irvine MV 31-Oct Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Hemsby R. Irvine MV 02-Nov Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera Hemsby R. Irvine MV 19-Jun Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera West Harling T.Vorsterman Actinic 21-Jul Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii Wells on Sea G. Bond Actinic 11-Jul Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 04-Aug Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii Hemsby R. Irvine MV 05-Aug Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii Hemsby R. Irvine MV B. Jones, K. 22-Jun Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Ashby Warren MV & Actinic 6 Knights B. Jones, K. 03-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Ashby Warren MV & Actinic 45 Knights 12-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Overstrand B. Murphy to light 27-Oct Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Worthing D. Knight MV

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 6 of 22 11-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore MV 2 14-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Bayfield G. Bond MV 21-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Bayfield G. Bond MV 20-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Kelling J. Turner MV 2 26-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Upton Fen NWT K.Saul MV 19-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra New Costessey M. Casey MV 11-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 19-Jul Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 01-Aug Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Winterton T. Phillips MV 18-Jun Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Dower House T.Vorsterman Actinic 27-Jul Loxostege sticticalis Overstrand B. Murphy to light 27-Jul Loxostege sticticalis Overstrand B. Murphy to light 26-Jul Loxostege sticticalis Overstrand G. Bond MV 25-Sep Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa Hockwold K. Puttick MV 30-Jul Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa Hockwold R. Dyke MV 19-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Thorpe Hamlet A. Arkell Day Obs 13-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Cockley Cley A. Banwell Day Obs 02-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Hunstanton A. Brown Day Obs 01-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum West Runton A. Duff Day Obs 19-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Burgh Common A. Hilling Day Obs 30-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Great Ellingham C. Knott Day Obs 11-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Great Ellingham C. Knott Day Obs 15-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Wiggenhall C. Sheppard Day Obs 19-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Stoke Holy Cross D. Jones Day Obs 01-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Stoke Holy Cross D. Jones Day Obs 26-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Carleton Rode D. Watson Day Obs 08-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 23-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 03-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 12-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 16-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 20-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore Day Obs 21-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Overstrand G. Bond Day Obs 04-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Hickling G. Du Feu Day Obs 08-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Wymondham G. Hardy Day Obs 14-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Bacton G. White Day Obs 3 28-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Bacton G. White Day Obs 4 11-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Filby G.Hurrell Day Obs 19-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Barnham Broom J. & J. Geeson Day Obs 17-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Barnham Broom J. & J. Geeson Day Obs 30-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Filby J. Saul Day Obs 22-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Caister J. Saul Day Obs 13-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Holme NWT J. Swalwell Actinic 06-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Upwell J. Wheeler Day Obs 03-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Ashill K. Gay Day Obs 31-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Marshland Fen K. Tarsey Day Obs 31-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Briston K. Turner Day Obs 26-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Sheringham K. Zealand Day Obs 08-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Filby K.Saul Day Obs 10-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Filby K.Saul Day Obs 30-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum How Hill K.Saul Day Obs 24-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Burgh Common K.Saul Day Obs 02-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Attleborough L. Broom-Lynne Day Obs 06-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum East Harling L. Green Day Obs 26-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Paston L. Nicholson Day Obs 15-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 29-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 7 of 22 03-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 11-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 14-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 27-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 23-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 02-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 04-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 30-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 03-Oct Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 15-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum East Ruston. M. Chipperfield Day Obs 25-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Sheringham M. Ghullam Day Obs 07-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 12-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 19-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 24-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 07-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 27-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 31-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 04-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 22-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 03-Oct Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 20-Oct Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne M. Gough Day Obs 13-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Acle M. Greenland Day Obs 08-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Diss M. Griffiths Day Obs 08-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Diss M. Griffiths Day Obs 22-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Hingham M. Hosier Actinic 21-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Hingham M. Hosier Day Obs 06-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Thetford M. Watkins Day Obs 07-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Thetford M. Watkins Day Obs 10-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Sheringham N. Borrow Day Obs 25-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Sheringham N. Borrow Day Obs 10-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Eccles On Sea N. Bowman Day Obs 16-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Stoke Holy Cross N. Elsey Day Obs 19-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Stoke Holy Cross N. Elsey Day Obs 20-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne R. Eagling Day Obs 29-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Weybourne R. Eagling Day Obs 05-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Deopham R. Eglen Day Obs 26-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Warham Camp R. Goldsmith Day Obs Larval 17-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Ingoldisthorpe R. Roche Day Obs 05-Sep Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Ingoldisthorpe R. Roche MV 23-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Cranwich Camp S. Pennell Day Obs 24-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Didlington S. Pennell Day Obs 30-May Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Hoveton S. Wright Day Obs 12-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Repps S. Wright Day Obs 21-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Thompson Water S. Youngs Day Obs 19-Oct Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Norwich T. Burton Day Obs 28-Aug Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Welney T. Inskipp Day Obs 17-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Wymondham College T. Money Day Obs 29-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Winterton T. Phillips Day Obs 30-Jun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Winterton T. Phillips Day Obs 01-Jul Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum Winterton T. Phillips Day Obs 29-Jul Metalampra italica Titchwell RSPB RSPB Staff MV 01-Aug Metalampra italica Bawdeswell D. Appleton MV 27-Aug Metalampra italica North Elmham D. Appleton MV 28-Sep Delicate Mythimna vitellina Overstrand G. Bond MV 22-Jul Delicate Mythimna vitellina Trowse J. Sutton MV 10-Oct Delicate Mythimna vitellina Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 8 of 22 13-Oct Delicate Mythimna vitellina Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 12-Jun Delicate Mythimna vitellina Scolt Head Island N. Lawton MV 23-Oct Delicate Mythimna vitellina Hemsby R. Irvine MV 28-Oct Delicate Mythimna vitellina Hemsby R. Irvine MV 26-Jul Nycterosea obstipata Lyng C. Sayer MV 18-Oct Nycterosea obstipata Dereham D. Norgate MV 14-May Nycterosea obstipata New Costessey M. Casey MV 30-Jul Nycterosea obstipata New Costessey M. Casey MV 06-Aug Nycterosea obstipata New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 12-Aug Nycterosea obstipata New Costessey M. Casey MV 04-Nov Nycterosea obstipata New Costessey M. Casey MV 17-Oct Nycterosea obstipata Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 19-Jul Oncocera semirubella Hockwold K. Puttick MV 26-Jul Oncocera semirubella Hockwold K. Puttick MV R. Evan Jones 12-Jul Oncocera semirubella Flitcham MV J. Swalwell 31-Mar Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa Hickling M. A'Court MV 03-Apr Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 31-Mar Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa Horsey Corner T. Hodge MV 2 05-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Aldeby B. Jones MV & Actinic B. Jones, K. 18-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Herringfleet Hills MV & Actinic 2 Knights B. Jones, K. 18-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Herringfleet Hills MV & Actinic 2 Knights B. Jones, K. 28-Aug European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Somerleyton MV & Actinic Knights B. Jones, K. 11-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Aldeby Tailby, M. MV & Actinic 2 Hammond 02-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Great Ellingham C. Knott MV 26-May European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 2 31-May European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 2 02-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 4 09-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 8 10-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 12-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 4 13-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 8 20-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 8 26-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 27-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 02-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 04-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 07-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 14-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 16-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 17-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 19-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 2 16-Sep European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Methwold G. Geen MV 09-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hindolveston J. Clifton MV 18-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Dersingham J. Hodgkinson MV 15-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Cranwich Camp J. Swalwell Netted 2 04-Jun European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Marshland Fen K. Tarsey MV 07-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 18-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 25-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Weybourne R. Eagling MV 08-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hempstead S. Wright MV 06-Jul European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Welney T. Inskipp MV 15-Oct Palpita vitrealis Lyng C. Sayer MV 16-Oct Palpita vitrealis Dereham D. Norgate MV 04-Sep Palpita vitrealis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 13-Oct Palpita vitrealis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 9 of 22 16-Oct Palpita vitrealis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 15-Oct Palpita vitrealis Horsey Corner T. Hodge MV 18-Oct Palpita vitrealis Horsey Corner T. Hodge MV 15-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Hempstead A. Wallis MV 20-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia North Elmham D. Appleton MV 25-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Catfield G. Bond Actinic 15-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Methwold G. Geen MV 06-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Hindolveston J. Clifton MV 04-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Stow Bardolph K. Leighton MV 25-Jul Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 27-Aug Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 31-Aug Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 01-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 15-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 30-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 01-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 04-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 07-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 18-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 26-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia New Costessey M. Casey MV 28-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 28-Sep Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Hemsby R. Irvine MV 2 29-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Hemsby R. Irvine MV 31-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Hemsby R. Irvine MV 25-Oct Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Cromer R. Lee MV 01-Nov Vestal Rhodometra sacraria North Tuddenham A. Bull MV B. Jones, K. 18-Jul Vestal Rhodometra sacraria Herringfleet Hills MV & Actinic Knights 30-Oct Vestal Rhodometra sacraria Old Costessey C. Bishop MV 31-Oct Vestal Rhodometra sacraria Lyng C. Sayer MV 01-Jun Vestal Rhodometra sacraria Worthing D. Knight MV 05-Sep Vestal Rhodometra sacraria Barnham Broom J. & J. Geeson MV 09-Aug Sitochroa palealis Thompson Water S. Youngs Day Obs 30-Aug Sitochroa palealis Hethersett S. Youngs MV 20-Sep Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua Costessey A. Gardiner MV 19-Sep Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua Beeston Bump G. & J. Dunmore MV 23-May Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua Hemsby R. Irvine MV 04-Jun Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua Hemsby R. Irvine MV 23-Jun Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua Hemsby R. Irvine MV 25-Jul Scarce Silver Y Syngrapha interrogationis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 24-Jul Scarce Silver Y Syngrapha interrogationis Walsey Hills NOA S. Barker Day Obs 05-Sep Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hunstanton A. Brown MV 23-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hempstead A. Wallis MV 27-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hempstead A. Wallis MV 30-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Burgh St Peter B. Jones MV & Actinic 4 27-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis North Tuddenham B. Pummell MV 31-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Dereham C. Fenn Actinic 21-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis North Elmham D. Appleton MV 18-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis North Elmham D. Appleton MV 28-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Overstrand G. Bond MV 06-Sep Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Overstrand G. Bond MV 02-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Overstrand G. Bond MV 16-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Methwold G. Geen MV 23-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Methwold G. Geen MV 26-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Methwold G. Geen MV 08-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Barnham Broom J. & J. Geeson MV 30-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Dersingham J. Hodgkinson Actinic

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 10 of 22 22-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Holme NWT J. Swalwell MV 21-Sep Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Wells on Sea J. Swalwell Day Obs 01-Nov Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Titchwell RSPB J. Swalwell Day Obs 20-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Filby K.Saul Window 30-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Filby K.Saul MV 8 05-Sep Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 16-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 19-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 23-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Gorleston M. Casey Day Obs 25-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 27-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 28-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 29-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 29-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 2 30-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 31-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 2 01-Nov Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey Day Obs 2 01-Nov Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis New Costessey M. Casey MV 2 15-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 22-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 28-Aug Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 5 02-Sep Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 13-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 14-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 5 15-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 3 16-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 4 17-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 5 18-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 8 19-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 23-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 5 24-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 4 25-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 2 18-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Weybourne R. Eagling MV 2 25-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 6 26-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 5 28-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 8 29-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 2 31-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 32 02-Nov Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hemsby R. Irvine MV 5 23-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Repps S. Wright Day Obs 2 31-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hoveton S. Wright Day Obs 20-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hethersett S. Youngs MV 2 31-Oct Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Welney T. Inskipp MV 2 Burnham Overy 18-Oct Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella J. Lowan Day Obs Dunes 05-Apr Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV 06-Apr Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta Eccles On Sea N. Bowman MV

Dave Hipperson.

WESTON PARK - 3RD MAY

The aim of the first part of the evening visit to Weston Park was to look for larvae. Visual searching by torch light and beating produced numerous small caterpillars of Winter Moth and Mottled Umber, plus cases of Coleophora serratella on the birches and several large webs of evonymella on Bird-cherry. As well as these, adults of Esperia Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 11 of 22 sulphurella and Phyllonorycter sorbi were caught. The prize find, by Jon Clifton, however, were half a dozen unfamiliar large noctuid caterpillars ascending the trunk of a large lime tree which had us all initially puzzled as to their identity. These were eventually determined to be mature Orange Sallow larvae. It was fascinating to see these starting what is a twice nightly journey from their hiding places somewhere at the base of the large specimen tree, up the trunk to somewhere in the canopy to feed, before then returning pre dawn.

After refreshments, kindly laid on by the park staff, we inspected a few light traps set out in the woodland. Although only a handful of species were caught they were mostly striking species and included Spruce Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Great Prominent, Least Black Arches, Muslin, Nut-tree Tussock, Ochreous Pug and Maiden’s Blush.

Once again our thanks and appreciation goes to the ever friendly staff at Weston Park for their hospitality, enthusiasm and help which makes our visits here such a pleasure.

Phil Heath

BARROW COMMON – 31ST MAY

With the day dawning calm & sunny, things were looking good for the trip up to Barrow Common in the evening. Arriving early allowed plenty of time to pick a suitable spot to set up as well as admire the local Barn Owl as it drifted past a few times, whilst Ken & a couple of the sites trustees drifted back towards the 70`s on a wave of obscure Folk references.

With dusk approaching we set up the traps (4 x 125W MV & 1 x 15W actinic), each one hopefully covering a slightly different micro-habitat so as to maximise our species list. Some of the more open areas were well covered with Sheep`s Sorrel & Ken rightly predicted that Opostega salaciella should be present, and one was duly netted whilst we were still dusking, although no further individuals came to light. As the night drew on moths started coming to the lights in good numbers and variety. Several worn/dark looking gelechids had us scratching our heads for a while until a fresher individual turned up that showed them to be Teleiopsis diffinis, another Sorrel feeder. Coleophoras were present at all the traps & Dick Jones was giving a master-class in “pooting” them up, although all subsequently proved to be albicosta. Micro variety was a bit on the low side what with it still being relatively early in the season & a total of 22 species were seen, the Tortriciidae being best represented with 8 species, including the likes of Ancylis mitterbacheriana and Notocelia uddmanniana.

Larger Moths were out in force, and 64 species were identified. The ever delightful Peach Blossom was seen, alongside other “crowd pleasers” such as Buff Arches, Scorched Wing, Lime and both Elephant Hawk-moths, but unfortunately the locals were long gone. The first surprise of the night was a Pug that Dick identified as a Satyr Pug on account of its chequered wing veins amongst other things, and much debate then ensued as to the correct pronunciation of its name. For future reference it is “Sat-ur”. With only 16 records this century (4 of them larval) it is indeed a scarce moth in the county. How much of this is down to the quite common affliction known as “Pug blindness” that is rife amongst moth-ers is not known. I count myself a victim, as I don`t think I would have identified it, especially under the glare of an MV lamp. Dick again struck lucky shortly afterwards, just as we were about to leave for another trap, exclaiming “Look at this” and pointing down to a pristine Netted Pug that had arrived unseen and settled down out of view amongst the shadows. How easily it could have been trodden on. No identification headache with this one though, as we all oohed & aahed over it. Indeed, it was a lifer for all of us!

To cap an excellent evening, with good weather to boot, Rosy Marbled was present at all the traps except for the actinic, with a total of 8 being seen. This was a totally

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 12 of 22 unexpected occurrence, as the species only became established in the Brecks in the mid 80`s and had never been recorded away from there before, until this year. The species is presumably established on the Common given the numbers present & spread across the traps and could be one to benefit from global warming, seeing as it is currently restricted to the S.E. corner of the UK.

Thanks to Ken Saul for doing the leg work and organising this event. It`s surely an area that we must visit again, although I think I say that about most sites we visit!

Rob Lee

GRIME’S GRAVES –28TH JUNE

Despite living in Norfolk for 24 year this was my first visit to Grime’s Graves, an English Heritage site due to its peculiar Neolithic flint mines and a Site of Special Scientific Interest as a species-rich remnant of Breckland heath and grassland. The event drew a good number of attendees, many of whom brought lights – so many in fact that most of us didn’t manage to get round to them all during the course of the night. As such I’m sure everyone went away with a different selection of personal highlights.

We hoped of course for some good Breckland specials and between us we recorded a good number of them. I’m sure Cream-spot Tiger must have been a highlight for those lucky enough to have seen it but for me I was pleased to see Fox Moths, Grass Emerald, Plain Wave, Shaded Pugs, Brown Scallops, Satin Beauty, several Small Elephant Hawkmoths, Four-dotted Footmen and several Reddish Light Arches. A Lunar Yellow Underwing was among the additional species recorded by others.

One of the things I like about attending these events is learning from others and the discussion we have over certain species’ identification is usually informative. Sometimes we don’t get it quite right even after a collective discussion and after checking through photos we had to revise a few of our IDs tonight. Some of the Wainscots weren’t quite as interesting as we’d thought, but at least the Mere Wainscot ID was robust!

The micros didn’t let us down either, though again which ones you saw depended on which traps you focussed on – I doubt if anyone saw all of the good ones. Sophronia semicostella was one of the first to be identified, followed by the likes of Scythropia crataegella, Delplanqueia dilutella, Anarsia spartiella and Anania verbascalis. They were my highlights, but others fared better with Thiotricha subocellea, Batrachedra pinicolella, Pammene fasciana and Pyrausta despicata. They also recorded a couple of good local Plume Moths – Breckland Plume Crombrugghia distans and Wood Sage Plume Capperia britanniodactylus.

An excellent evening all in all and a total of 157 species recorded.

Dave Appleton

GAWDY HALL BIG WOOD – 5TH JULY

This was a visit to a place that I knew nothing about. It was rumoured to be a remnant of the ancient wood that once covered Norfolk. Hardly ever visited, it could hold anything, maybe something interesting.

A surprisingly few people turned up on the night, just five regulars and the estate manager and his assistant. We set off into the gloom of the wood and decided to set up four traps along the main road through the wood and up rides to the east and west.

While we were waiting for the fun to begin we searched the trunks of trees and found the Bagworms, Luffia ferchaultella and Psyche casta. Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 13 of 22

Nothing much happened at first but then I saw something odd. A small, greasy grey moth had appeared on the grass next to the trap that I was watching. It had a dirty brown head and the only markings that I could make out were a couple of small spots on the wings. I looked at in surprise, was this a new moth from the ancient past, had the wood held a secret hidden in its gloomy depths? Then the penny dropped, I was looking at my first Common Lutestring, a moth I had wanted to see for years. It is quite common in the wood.

We ended up with 98 species being recorded for the night. The best were Acompsia cinerella (Ash Coloured Sober), Batrachedra praenagusta (Poplar Cosmet), Archips crataegana (Brown Oak Tortrix), Olindia schumacherana (White Barred Tortrix) and Muslin Footman.

Oh yes, there was a Purple Hairstreak that surprised everyone by coming to one trap in the darkness.

Dick Jones

UPTON FEN – 26TH JULY This was a very well attended evening with nearly 20 recorders present, some from as far afield as Birmingham, Bedfordshire and Suffolk as well as the ever present local moth enthusiasts.

12 moth traps were positioned in and around the fen which lies in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. With a clear evening, it took a while for moths to start and show themselves but once they did so, the species were of a good quality. As so happens, the geometrid moths usually are first to arrive with one or two Lesser Cream Wave, Flame Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet along with both Red and Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (the latter has had a good year in Norfolk which is a welcoming thought as it is certainly getting rarer). The usual carpets that would not open their wings were eventually identified as Chevron and Grey Pine Carpet. A single Triple-spotted Pug put in an appearance as did several Peacock moths. It was also good to see one or two Dusky Thorn alongside the Canary-shouldered Thorns.

Good numbers of Sallow Kitten were present in most moth traps. A Dotted Footman tended to stay sat on the white sheet most of the evening attracting many makes of camera. Garden Tiger and Grey Arches were seen in Skinner Traps positioned along the rides of phragmites, both making rather late appearances. Of the ‘wainscots’ we were graced with Twin-spotted, Brown-veined, Southern, Fen and Reed Dagger. A fair number of Crescent and Double Lobed crept into several moth traps. Micro-moths were represented by good numbers of Cnephasia genitalana, several Acleris laterana, Donacaula forficella, and a single Scoparia subfusca amongst many S. ambigualis.

Probably one of the highlights was not discovered until most recorders had split up to start and wind in for the night, in Ken Saul’s distant trap out on the edge of the bog myrtle was sat a Four-spotted Footman on the outside of his trap!

A very enjoyable evening.

Jon Clifton

WHEATFEN – 16TH AUGUST

Our venue on 16th August was Wheatfen which is the legacy of the outstanding Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis who died in 1986. I remember occasionally bumping into Ted out on the marshes at Haddiscoe Island which seemed to be a favourite haunt of his and he was always ready to share his vast knowledge of natural history. I once sent him a specimen

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 14 of 22 of a rare form of carnivorous slug which I found in Yarmouth and his great enthusiasm about the find was portrayed when he wrote about it in his regular EDP column.

So for me this event was a good opportunity to visit his reserve for the first time and when I arrived, after eventually finding it down the back lanes, Ken Saul was already giving his lecture about moths to an audience of about 40 people in the reception centre. Quite a number of these continued with their interest by staying to observe the recording of the moths and 7 traps were run to do this. One had to be shut down early on because it became full of hornets. The others were spread out, some near the visitor centre and others along the reserve footpaths.

The evening cooled down quite quickly as the cloud cover cleared and so no great numbers of moths were drawn to the traps, but enough to keep the interest of those who had stayed on. 43 macro and 34 micro species were recorded in the traps and Stewart Wright identified another 17 from leaf mines. Of the macros, Balsam Carpet, Triple- spotted Pug and Webb’s Wainscot were a good indication of the habitat to be found on the reserve with a good number of Dusky Thorn also recorded. Micros included Apotomis capreana, Eudonia pallida, and a very grey specimen of Epinotia nisella with none of the usual diagnostic markings for this species. Upon dissection this turned out to be the form which has recently been given species status as Epinotia cinereana. Possibly a new species for Norfolk. Ted would have been delighted!

We were all packed up and away by midnight.

Brian Jones

BRYANT’S HEATH – 23RD AND 30TH AUGUST.

Bryant’s Heath is a small area of heathland not far from North Walsham. As this was a site that I had never visited before, I arrived early in order to search the area for leaf miners. When I walked out onto the open heath at seven o’clock it was already getting pretty cold and it didn’t feel as if it was going to be a very productive night for mothing. There was however a good range of trees growing around the heath and I found forty- eight leaf mining species including Heliozela resplendella, Incurvaria pectinea and Stigmella sakhalinella.

At dusk three MV traps were set among a sheltered area of woodland, but as the temperature continued to drop it soon became clear that we were wasting our time. Eleven species came to the lights including Maiden’s Blush and Pandemis cinnamomeana. While we had been setting up the traps we had discovered that the local residents were expecting the moth night to be the following weekend, so it seemed like a good idea to pack up early and return a week later hoping for more favourable conditions.

The following Saturday was considerably warmer and with seven traps spread out across the heath we had a much more productive evening. Square-spot Rustic was by far the most numerous of the forty-six species of macros recorded. Among the more crowd pleasing moths were Old Lady, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Centre-barred Sallow and Frosted Orange. Thirty-two species of micros were noted including six specimens of the nationally scarce Nb Crambus hamella. Other species of interest included Agonopterix umbellana, Acleris emargana and Agriphila latistria. The site will definitely be worth further investigation in the future.

Stewart Wright

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 15 of 22 HORSEY MERE – 27TH SEPTEMBER

The penultimate field meeting of this season was held by Horsey Mere, targeting some of the autumnal species. In mild weather and calm conditions, and to a background soundtrack of Tawny Owls, roosting Pink-footed Geese and bellowing Red Deer stags, five traps were run near the boat dyke and car park.

Most of the species recorded were the desired typical, ubiquitous, autumnal species such as Brindled Green, Brick, Frosted Green, Beaded Chestnut, Lunar Underwing, Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Red-green Carpet and Red-line Quaker. Somewhat more localised species noted were Black Rustic (scarce in East Norfolk until recent years), Oak Nycteoline, Large Wainscot and Small Wainscot.

One feature of autumn 2014 was the prolonged unusually warm fine weather, extending throughout September. This encouraged some unexpected second broods in some species and examples caught on this evening were Yellowtail and perhaps most notably a couple of Dotted Footman.

As well as the species recorded at light, Stuart Wright searched the area during the afternoon for leaf mines and recorded c30?? species.

Phil Heath

BETTY’S FEN – 11TH OCTOBER

Our leaf mine day this year was a joint event with our friends from the Suffolk Moth Group and also the Little Ouse Headwaters Project. We were again privileged to have John Langmaid and Brian Elliott as our leaders for the day.

Around a dozen or so of us met in the morning at Blo’ Norton village hall, where LOHP members kindly provided us with tea, coffee and biscuits. It also gave us the opportunity to consult maps and literature showing areas managed, owned or leased by LOHP, and thus to plan our strategy for the day. It was decided to walk from the hall down to Betty’s Fen and record things as we went. The day had dawned rather drizzly, but from now on we were fortunate to enjoy a dry, mild day.

At this point, due to a lack of mobile ‘phone signal, Andy Beaumont and I were obliged to drive to the pub in Thelnetham in order to let them know how many to expect for lunch. When we returned, the party was still progressing along the lane, so we parked further along the verge next to the entrance and began searching directly on the fen, where the others soon joined us.

While the mines were not as prolific as in some years, we still soon amassed a reasonable tally of records. Bedelia somnulentella on bindweed transpired to be a new vice-county record for West Norfolk, while others of interest included Cosmopterix zieglerella on the hops and Phyllonorycter viminetorum on osier. The latter species is strangely uncommon in Norfolk, considering its foodplant. Two other scarce species that seem to have increased in the last year or so were P. strigulatella and Phyllocnistis saligna. The only macro larva discovered on the fen was a Drinker, although one or two male Vapourer moths were seen flying around. A couple of Coleophorid cases were found – albitarsella on ground ivy and follicularis on hemp agrimony. Paul Cobb and Andy Beaumont also found several galls, including a rather strange yellow one on oak, which turned out to be Andricus gemmeus – only the second Norfolk record!

Following a pub lunch we reconvened on the Suffolk side of the river to visit Hinderclay Fen. This was an interesting site (new to several of us), which, as well as fen and reedbed, had areas of damp acid grassland, woodland, scrub and lichen heath. The sorrel here yielded another relatively uncommon species – Enteucha acetosae – the beautiful spiral red mines showing up well among the Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 16 of 22 green leaves. Stigmella sakhalinella seems to be turning up all over the place this year, and was found here on the birches. I was also interested to see S. assimilella - not a species I am familiar with - on aspen.

With totals of roughly fifty or so species for each site, we had enjoyed a very satisfying day of recording. We thank John and Brian again for giving so freely of their time and expertise.

Ken Saul

PSYCHOIDES VERHUELLA

When I wrote (Newsletter 83) about finding Psychoides larvae on Hart's-tongue Fern in my garden at Heacham, my assumption was that I had the same one Dick Jones found two years earlier in his garden at Dersingham, just 5 miles away, namely P. filicivora, but I decided this year I really ought to take the trouble to rear some out, just to check.

Came the day I opened the pot and found moths within - "right I'll just check these and confirm and oh sh....it's the wrong one, no white spot" - it was of course P. verhuella.

The UK Moths website tells us that P. verhuella is usually on Hart's-tongue (but not always), and P. filicivora is usually on Polystichum and Dryopteris species (but also on Hart's-tongue), so the larvae can't be distinguished on the basis of the food-plant. Fortunately, UK Moths also tells us that the larva of P. verhuella is distinguished by having a black head and prothoracic shield, which are brown in P. filicivora.

Paul Cobb

SILVERY GEM IN NORFOLK

On the night of 23rd July I put out my skinner trap with 125w MV bulb in my garden in Weybourne. At dawn it was closed down and put in shade by the side of the house. I was up too late in the morning to empty the trap and as I normally visit the NWT Cley reserve to see the moths trapped there overnight I did not start to check my trap until midday. On removing the 3rd egg box from the trap I saw a moth and knew immediately it was something different. I then had a heart stopping moment as the moths around it started to fly, but somehow managed to pot it!

It was a fantastic looking moth but I had no idea what it was. After finishing processing the rest of the moths in the trap I checked in my book but could not find it, then I started to realise I had something good, but what?

I went onto the internet and found a foreign web site and started going through the moths one by one. After a while I found Eucarta virgo and knew straight away that was it. I put the scientific name into google and came up with Silvery Gem, a moth from south and central . I showed the moth to a friend who managed to find it in one of his books stating that it had only been found once before in Britain. This would make it a first for Norfolk and a second for Britain.

The moth was put on display at the NWT Cley reserve centre on Saturday 26th and a steady stream of approximately 100 admirers came throughout the day.

Richard Eagling

SPLENDOURS OF NATURE

Yesterday evening I went on an errand for my daughter Annabelle. There was sunshine and rain and I was very fortunate to see three splendid rainbows on the near horizon.

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 17 of 22 My destination was a huge self-seeded apple tree on the side of the road close to our home. I was on my way to pick apple leaves for my daughter's tiny pets.

It had all started in the late summer nearly two years earlier when I found a single caterpillar on our yellow climbing rose. We checked it up in Annabelle's book and in her care it grew into a Vapourer moth which was fed on rose leaves. It was a female caterpillar and when it became a moth, we put it out by the light of a torch. As we were bending over our flower bed, our neighbour came in and called out and asked what we were up to. He came over and found it fascinating. During the night the female had been visited by several males, and by the morning there were about 350 minute eggs by her. The eggs were stored in our garage over winter and in the spring miniature caterpillars started emerging from the egg cases (they were both male and female). The males were released and the females were put out as their mother had been. Some containers got wet in the rain; there were lots of plastic pots in and out of the door, as if on a conveyor belt.

We have been able to supply the caterpillars with apple leaves from our garden from the second generation onwards but now there has been an explosion and as the tiny creatures are being released onto our apple trees and their later siblings are being fed with apple leaves, we are running out of supplies. Annabelle has worked out that these caterpillars are the great-grandchildren of the original single lady, and in the next couple of years there were many more. Unfortunately, the robins in our garden ate several of the ladies, but a number of them in the trees produced further generations.

Sini Tipper

EPERMENIA AEQUIDENTELLUS – NEW TO NORFOLK

The evening of Thursday 30th October 2014 looked promising for a bit of moth trapping. The temperature was around the 14°C and although the cloud had cleared revealing a bright first quarter moon a stiff southerly breeze could perhaps bring in something interesting. So I took the traps to Burgh St Peter a regular site for me and one that has turned up some very good moths over the 3 years I have recorded there. 15 minutes after switching on, one trap was full of hornets and no sign of any moths. My thoughts were that if the other 2 traps were being similarly invaded then no point in staying and might as well pack up and go home. Fortunately they hosted just 2 or 3 hornets that were easy to cope with and pot.

Considering how warm it was, there were not many moths coming to the traps. November Moth was the most abundant with 20 or so. A few Rusty-dot Pearl and Diamond-back were the only representatives from the migrants.

With things not living up to expectations I decided to call it an evening with a sum total of 10 species including a very small pale micro I had potted that at first glance looked like a Coleophora. I don’t usually bother with Coleophora, just lump them together as spp. But as it was a bit late for these to still be about I thought I’d better give it a closer look before releasing. It was then that I spotted the scale tufts which immediately ruled out Coleophera so I pocketed it for a better check in the morning thinking it was either a Mompha or possibly a small light coloured Epermenia chaerophyllella.

The morning light revealed a small pale moth with long narrow wings, 4 small dark scale tufts a dark area around the head and a couple of dark marks on the wings. Obviously an Epermenia, not resembling either E. falciformis or E. chaerophyllella but most like E. aequidentellus which upon internet search seemed an unlikely species to find in Norfolk as nearly all records are from the south coast.

Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 86 Page 18 of 22 So I sent out photos of the moth to others who agreed that it looked like E. aequidentellus but a gen. det. would be needed to confirm. Jon Clifton was keen to do this and the result confirmed its identity as a male Epermenia aequidentellus. The mystery: - is it a resident species on the site or was it blown in from elsewhere? Maybe time will tell.

So that area of SE Norfolk continues to produce surprises. Two species new to Norfolk in three years.

Brian Jones

CRIMSON SPECKLED NEW TO NORFOLK

Crimson Speckled was found by day at Burnham Overy Dunes on Saturday 18th Oct. A quick summary of the encounter - with apologies for not knowing enough about moths to get the news out! This is a tale of ignorance not suppression...

Tom Stuart and I were birding from Burnham Overy to Wells on Sat 18 October, looking for migrants. About 200m west of the westernmost tip of Holkham Pines, which I think is still technically Burnham Overy Dunes, we flushed a white moth from the sandy turf. It landed a few metres away. Looking through binoculars, I was astonished to see red marks alongside the black spots. I took a few photos before it flew north (well, was blown north in the strong southerly wind) and landed out of sight.

I only started mothing this summer and while I couldn't put a name to the moth, it seemed familiar. I thus assumed it was something common that I hadn't encountered thus far - ie it was in the WILDGuides Dayflying Moths book. When I got home that evening, a quick scan of the WILDGuide and of 'what's flying now' on Norfolk Moths failed to reveal anything like it. But this has happened to me before - and basically means I need to look harder at the website or more critically at my images.

I was on the coast again the next day, so didn't get another chance to check the moth ID until Sunday 19th evening. This time I flicked through the condensed moth guide, and quickly found Crimson Speckled, listed as 'Immigrant'. A quick Google Image check suggested that was the correct ID, even if our seemed to have more faded red than most pics. A scan of Norfolk Moths revealed no mention.

By now, I was getting worried. Immigrant + no Norfolk records? This could be rare! UKMoths suggested there were c100 UK records. Jeez! I had scr*wed up. I quickly emailed Sacha Barbato of Salle, and asked him if I was going mad or whether I had indeed jammed a Norfolk first. He confirmed the latter - and was understandably frustrated at me not id'ing the moth and disseminating the news more quickly. For which - fellow Norfolk Mothers - I am really am very sorry. I shall spend the winter ensconced in my field guides and be a better Moth-er next year...

James Lowen http://jameslowen.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS

Vapourer Moths and eggs Orgyia antiqua Photos courtesy of Annabelle Tipper

Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella Silvery Gem Eucarta virgo Photo courtesy of James Lowen Photo courtesy of Richard Eagling

Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula Metalampra italica Photo courtesy of Dave Holman Photo courtesy of Dave Appleton

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Bryotropha basaltinella Diplopseustis perieresalis Photo courtesy of Dave Appleton Photo courtesy of Dave Appleton

Epermenia aequidentellus Stigmella magdalenae larval leaf mine Photo courtesy of Brian Jones Photo courtesy of Stewart Wright

Endothenia ustulana

Photo courtesy of Stewart Wright

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