Sunday 1 June 2014

Just a few

Quite a small catch in Wolvercote last night, considering it was relatively warm, but some nice species among them. Our first Pseudargyrotoza conwagana of the year was a handsome little creature (but who the heck came up with its name?); and we had what we think is a rather vaguely-marked Shears (but are open to suggestions). The longhorn, which seems likeliest to be Nematopogon swammerdamella, we're willing to be told is unidentifiable from sight alone, especially in a rather dodgy photo... Steve and Xander Goddard.

Some sort of longhorn, 31/5/14

Possible Shears, 31/5/14

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 31/5/14

3 comments:

  1. Steve: The answer to your direct question is Johan Christian Fabricius. Pseudargyrotoza conwagana is so bad it's good, I think. No point in complaining to Fabricius, however, he's been dead over 200 years. Nematopogon swammerdamella isn't much better; you can blame Linnaeus for that. Fabricius was one of Linnaeus' first students and named loads (thousands, I believe) of Arthropods.

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  2. Your long-horn is indeed a Nematopogon species but I wouldn't like to say which of the three it is from that picture, Steve.

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  3. Thanks, Andrew and Dave -- wasn't expecting to get an answer to that question! I've always rather admired Linnaeus, wasn't aware of Fabricius. Point taken on the Nematopogon... Was my stab at a Shears OK?

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