Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Friday 10 August 2012

Moths Again!

A belated report of moths trapped on Monday night. There were a few species new for the year - Orange Swift and Straw Underwing

Orange Swift (a male - the female is brown)



A couple of queries. The third cross line on the "wave" species below does not seem to be kinked at the outer edge so is it possibly a Plain Wave?? or just another variation of Riband Wave? The moth is a similar size to Riband Wave.

Edit - Many thanks to Stewart (The Orthosia) for confirming this is a Riband Wave - the non banded form remutata



I think this micro moth might be Acleris forsskaleana? which would be a new species for the garden.

Edit - Thanks again Stewart for confirming my id - really chuffed I got this one right :)



Summary of Moths Trapped Monday 6th August

9.00 p.m. until dawn
Minimum Temperature 10.3 degrees centigrade
15w Actinic Skinner Trap

015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) x 2 NFY

1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) x 1 Edit x 2

2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) x 5

1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) x 1

2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) x 2

2381 Uncertain (Hopolodrina alsines) x 3

1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) x 2

2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) x 3

2343 Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis) x 1

2303 Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura) x 3 NFY

0656 Tachystola acroxantha x 1

plus the two queries

1036 Acleris forsskaleana x 1?? would be NFG

Edit -id confirmed by Stewart (many thanks!!)

Possible Plain Wave (Idaea straminata) x 1?? would be NFG
Edit - this is Riband Wave see above


There were dozens of micros and I have to admit to letting most of them go. I have decided that, unless they are particularly distinctive (i.e. easier to id!) or on the Garden Moth Scheme list, I will not try to identify them at the moment. Hopefully, one day when I have more time and/or my macro id skills have finally improved, I will tackle this group of moths!

4 comments:

Stewart said...

Hi Caroline, all your id's are correct. The Riband Wave is the non banded form remutata, its the commonest up here and into Scotland...

Ragged Robin said...

Hi Stewart - Many thanks for all your help again :) Pleased I got the micro correct and thanks for the useful info re: Riband Wave. All the best Caroline.

Rohrerbot said...

I'm always thankful for people who can ID something on the spot. Some species are really hard to ID. Glad you a second opinion. That first moth has really nice color.

Ragged Robin said...

Rohrerbot - The Orange Swift's are rather pretty and make a change from the huge amount of moth lbj's I trap :) I'm still very hesitant on moth id! so am really grateful to people like Stewart and Dean and a few others who come to the rescue :) Have a good weekend!