Sunday 22 October 2017

Large Wainscot male?

Could anyone confirm whether this is a male Large Wainscot, caught this weekend in Sonning ? I have only caught females before, which in Skinner are significantly bigger.

3 comments:

  1. It does look like it to me but maybe someone else would also care to comment? They are quite variable in size and the overall wing shape seems to be correct even if there seems to be little sign of the usual curved row of dots in that image. Maybe a side-on picture would help.

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  2. Hi Alastair From a distance my first impression was Large Wainscot due to the shape and it would be a logical conclusion at this time of year. They can be that size - my smallest specimen is only slightly larger. However, on closer view it has white veins, a tiny central dark dot and little sign of dark dusting, all of which are more suggestive of a Mythimna wainscot. Is it definitely a male ? I suspect it is a Common Wainscot, but could we see the underside and a close view of the antennae. If it is a male the antennae should be conclusive.
    Martin

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  3. Hi Martin, Unfortunately I let it go straight away so can't send it to Peter for dissection. However I did check the hindwings and they were greyish, so I dismissed Common Wainscot.

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