Noctuids cont: Heliothinae

2399 Pyrrhia umbra - Bordered Sallow

Status: Notable, not quite annual here.

Habitat/Food plant: Mostly coastal but also in inland woodland too. The larval food plants are stated as Common and Spiny Restharrow, also Henbane and Sea Sandwort. Away from the coast they will eat Hazel, Oak and Willow.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Taken here on a mere 15 dates (which surprised even me to be honest) all as single moths apart from 2 on 28th June 2008 and 30th June 2009. All records have occurred between 2nd June (in 2014) and 1st August. (also in 2014)

In 2016 a late one showed up on September 2nd.

The annual counts have been:

1999 = 1.    2000 = 1.    2001 = 1.    2002 = 0.    2003 = 1.    2004 = 0.    2005 = 0.    2006 = 1.    2007 = 0.    2008 = 2.    2009 = 4.    2010 = 0.    2011 = 2.    2012 = 0.  

2013 = 1.    2014 = 3.    2015 = 0.    2016 = 1.    2017 = 1.    2018 = 1.    2019 = 0.   2020 = 0.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 0.   2023 = 3.  2024 = 


2400 Helicoverpa armigera - Scarce Bordered Straw

Above: Two variants, which abound in this species.

Status: Scarce migrant, apart from the eruption of 2006 anyway. Resident in Southern Europe and North Africa.

Habitat/Food plant: Being an immigrant, almost all records are coastal. The larval food plants are started as Yellow Rattle and Scarlet Geranium as well as a few cultivated plants.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Apart from the mass migration year of 2006 I have only caught this species here on 19 occasions, almost always as singles but on one occasion a  pair. During the fantastic migration weather of 2006 I caught over 50, but at no time any more than three moths at any one time.  The earliest/latest captures here have occurred between 28th July (2006) and 15th November (2009), there have been many gap years here when none have shown up.

 The annual catch rates have been:

1999 = 0.    2000 =  1.    2001 = 0.    2002 = 0.    2003 =  5.    2004 =  3.    2005 =  3.    2006 = 50+.    2007 = 0.    2008 = 0.    2009 = 5.    2010 = 0.    2011 = 0.    2012 = 0.

2013 = 1.    2014 = 0.    2015 = 1.     2016 = 3.    2017 = 6.    2017 = 0.    2018 = 0.    2019 = 2.   2020 = 3.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 16.   2023 = 14.  2024 = 


2403 Heliothis peltigera - Bordered Straw

Status: Rare migrant, resident in mainland Europe and North Africa.

Habitat/Food plant: The flowers of Ploughman's Spikenard, Restharrow, Scentless Mayweed, Sticky Groundsel and garden Marigolds.

1999 - 2022 garden records: Taken here on 23 dates, though with ten of those were during the massive migration of 2006 this statistic is distorted somewhat. All records bar one, were as single moths (two showed up one night in both 2002 and 2006) all occurring between May 8th (2007 and 2023) and 14th August. (2003)

 The annual catch rates have been:

1999 = 0.    2000 =  0.    2001 = 0.    2002 = 3.    2003 =  3.    2004 =  1.    2005 =  0.    2006 = 11.    2007 = 1.    2008 = 1.    2009 = 1.    2010 = 0.    2011 = 1.      2012 = 0.

2013 = 1.    2014 = 0.     2015 = 5.    2016 = 0.    2017 = 0.     2018 = 0.    2019 = 0.    2020 = 0.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 4.   2023 = 1.  2024 = 


Eustrotiinae

2408 Eublemma parva - Small Marbled

28th October 2006

The second moth, taken on 6th July 2015.

Status: Rare migrant from central/southern Europe and North Africa.

Habitat/Food plant: Open habitat where the food plant occurs which is the flowers of Common Fleabane and Ploughman's Spikenard.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Two records, taken on 28th October 2006 then 6th July 2015.

2409a Eublemma purpurina - Beautiful Marbled

Status: Rare migrant from mainland Europe.

Habitat/Food plant: The food plant is Creeping Thistle though Norfolk Moths stated in 2022 'No evidence of breeding in UK. 

1999 - 2023 garden records: One on 10th August 2022. 

2410 Protodeltote pygarga - Marbled White Spot

Status: Scarce wanderer.

Habitat/Food plant: They occur in woodland and heathland, usually favouring acidic soil. The larval food plant is Purple Moor Grass and False Broom.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Taken on seven occasions at the garden moth traps, three times in 2003 then again in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2016.

All the captures have occurred between 7th June (2004) and 27th July. (2003)


Eariadinae

2418 Earias clorana - Cream-bordered Green Pea

Status: Annual in small numbers.

Habitat/Food plant: Reported as liking river valleys, though in more recent times even in well established gardens and the like. The larval food plant is Sallow and Willows.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Usually occurring as single moths, multiple catches are a rarity, though I have taken up to three in a single night here (in 2005 and 2010) the earliest and latest dates being, 26th May (2005) and 26th August. (2006)

Early date: 21st May 2022.   

Late date: 26th August 2006.

Max count: Up to 3. 

The annual catch rates have been:

1999 =  1.    2000 =  0.    2001 = 4.    2002 = 3.    2003 =  2.    2004 =  6.    2005 =  15.    2006 = 13.    2007 = 8.    2008 = 1.    2009 = 7.    2010 = 14.    2011 = 1.    2012 = 1.

2013 = 4.     2014 = 3.    2015 = 8.    2016 = 2.     2017 = 10.    2018 = 6.    2019 = 11.   2020 = 5.   2021 = 2.    2022 = 4.   2023 = 10+  2024 = 


Chloephorinae


2421 Bena bicolorana - Scarce Silver Lines

Status: Rare.

Habitat/Food plant: A moth of broad-leaved woodland. The larval stage feed mainly on Oak, also Downy Birch and Silver Birch.

1999 - 2022 garden records: singles, taken on 11th July 2019, ?? July 2019, 23rd June 2020, 26th June 2020, 16th July 2020, 2nd August 2021, 6th July 2022 and 16th July 2022.   


2422 Pseudoips prasinana - Green Silver Lines

Status: Notable ... annual for a few years only.

Habitat/Food plant: It frequents mainly woodland, the larval food plant mainly Oak but it will use Birch, Beech, Hazel, Sweet Chestnut, Aspen and Elm.

1999 - 2022 garden records: A scarcity initially, this species increased massively here from 2010. It has occurred on 29 dates (2 moths on 2 dates, in July 2010 and 2013) the early and late dates being 2nd June (2014) and 24th July. (2013)

The annual catch rate show the increase then decrease in captures in recent years: 

 1999 =  0.   2000 =  1.   2001 = 0.   2002 = 0.   2003 =  1.   2004 =  1.   2005 =  1.   2006 = 1.   2007 = 0.   2008 = 0.   2009 = 0.     2010 = 7.   2011 = 1.   2012 = 3.

2013 = 8.    2014 = 3.   2015 = 4.    2016 = 0.     2017 = 0.    2018 = 0.    2019 = 3.    2020 = 0.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 3.   2023 = 1.  2024 = 


2423 Nycteola revayana - Oak Nycteoline

Three of the many variant 'plumage's' this species arrives in. 

Status: Notable.

Habitat/Food plant: Broadleaved Woodland and Parkland, the larval food plant is Pedunculate Oak and 'probably' Sessile Oak?

1999 - 2022 garden records: Recorded on 19 occasions, all as single moths. Occurrences are random, as not only does the adult moth overwinter but they are also double brooded, meaning that catch dates are scattered and they can turn up at any time after April. My rather 'ad hoc' month on month chart (hee hee) reveals the following rather useless bit of information ...

May = 3.    June = 5.    July = 7.    August = 4.    September = 1.    October = 2.

The early and late dates have been 10th May (2002) and 26th October (2008)

The annual catch rate show perhaps a slight decline in captures ... 

1999 =  0.   2000 =  1.   2001 = 1.   2002 = 3.   2003 =  4.   2004 =  0.   2005 =  2.   2006 = 1.   2007 = 1.   2008 = 1.   2009 = 1.

2010 = 1.   2011 = 0.   2012 = 0.   2013 = 1.    2014 = 1.    2015 = 1.    2016 = 0.    2017 = 3.    2018 = 0.   2019 = 0.    2020 = 2.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 3.   

2023 = 5.   2024 =