Saturday 10 September 2016

One ID request

This moth appeared last night among the ever increasing numbers of Large Yellow Underwings (148 out of a total of 232 moths). It has got me puzzled. The right wing is quite badly distorted as if it failed to emerge and expand its wings properly. Parts of the left wing are quite worn but some quite clear markings are still evident. Any ideas welcome.






Andy Newbold, Sibford Ferris, Oxon.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Andy, very nice to see someone not afraid to handle a moth and who recognizes the potential importance of hindwings!! I don't really know what your moth is but have you considered Flounced Rustic?

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  2. I thought Dark Sword-grass maybe?

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  3. Like Darren, I think probably Dark Sword-grass

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  4. Thank you for your suggestions. I am fairly sure it is not a Flounced Rustic as the overall shape seems wrong. I have had several very worn specimens recently that I am fairly sure are Flounced Rustics. I had considered Dark Sword-grass and looking again it does seem right. However, the distorted right wing would surely make it unlikely to be an immigrant?

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  5. I can also see now that it might well be Dark Sword-grass and as it happens I had my first of the year in the garden trap on the same night. I get the moth here so regularly that I'm sure quite a few of those seen at this time of year will be a locally-bred generation, much as happens with Silver Y.

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