It was a productive night here with over 30 species recorded, which is good for this location. FFY Alder Moth, Dagger sp., Double Square-spot, Dusky Brocade, Elephant Hawk, Fox Moth (female, laid eggs), Green Arches, Heart & Dart. Several micros including Diamond-back Moth, the others I'm not sure about, one I suspect is
Bactra lacteana but I'd welcome suggestions from the attached photos if any of them are identifiable.
Moth 1 - Bactra lacteana?
Above & below - Moth 3
Above & below - Moth 4
P.S Sorry to be publishing all these drab photos, but I leave the exciting ones to Ian!
`Drab jobs` are always welcome Chris! Keep up the good work....I`m literally off out now to load the car with my traps and also set up the home traps. Tonight looks good weather-wise.
ReplyDeleteI`ll be a zombie again tomorrow after a couple of nights` welcome rest `off the moths`!
I`ll leave your micros to the experts...must go..
Good luck Ian. If you think the weather's going to be OK tonight you've seen a different forecast from the one I saw at lunchtime. Sam's prayer has been answered, but we knew it was coming!
ReplyDeleteI think that all apart from the tiniest of those moths are Bactra lancealana, which is exceedingly common in rushy places and very variable. The very rare B lacteana would need to be dissected to prove a first for the county. That upside-down V-mark on the wing of the final individual is characteristic of the species, as is the relatively long & narrow wing (for a Tortricid). Along with Celypha lacunana this is an essential micro for moth'ers to learn as you'll catch a lot of both!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam, my mistake, I meant B.lancealana! I guess that the identity of the small moth will have to remain a mystery. I will add another photo just in case it helps, but there are no stand-out features that I can see apart from its small size. Pity there isn't a key which might eliminate many species because they're too big!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably a wretched Elachista canapennella but impossible to be sure.
ReplyDelete