Saturday, 3 May 2014

Muslin antennae

I had the same phenomenon this morning (Sunday) and have
substituted this pic in order to show fine leggings
Only two moths last - unseasonally cold - night: a Hebrew Character and this male Muslin. The latter prompts me to ask if anyone else has pondered why this moth almost always has its antennae out, even when inert in the eggboxes. The vast majority of others - indeed maybe all of them - tuck theirs away unless disturbed.

Is there any reasoning about this? The Moth Bible is silent and I've not (yet) found enlightnement online.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon
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4 comments:

  1. Dave Wilton4 May 2014 at 10:37

    Sounds like a good subject for a PhD thesis, Martin!

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  2. Peter Hall4 May 2014 at 11:51

    It's not just Muslin moths that do this, but at the moment I can't think of another apart from Burnets? Of course butterflies are just pretty moths and they leave them out I think? I can't find much literature out there, this is the best: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/215/17/3096.full.pdf
    So Dave is right, Dr Wainwright.

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  3. Unknown4 May 2014 at 14:37

    How about the Emperor moth? The plumed antennae of both sexes aren't hidden away, from what i remember.

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  4. Martin Wainwright4 May 2014 at 14:41

    Thanks everyone! A PhD thesis would be excellent but alas I failed phys-with-chem O level and didn't even try biology, so I am not the one to do it. I guess Oxford could furnish plenty of candidates.

    Thanks v much for the link, Peter, and the point about butterflies - plus the Emperor Moth, Dave. So I have plenty to go on

    all warm wishes (warm being the word this lovely day)

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