I can't compete with Dave Wilton's numbers, but last night was the latest and I think the biggest of several quite large catches in Wolvercote, Oxon, in the last week or so. Unfortunately, they've coincided with a busy period for me otherwise, so there's a lot of catching up to do. As far as I can judge, some species are showing earlier than in previous years: for example, our first Common Footman of the year was recorded on 8th June, while the Moth Bible gives a flight season of July-August. There have also been some lovely garden firsts: a Beautiful Golden Y on the 8th and a Small Fan-foot on the 12th.
Inevitably, there are quite a few queries, which I'll post in a few batches: all help gratefully received. First a few which I think I have some idea of:
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| Presumed Phtheochroa sodaliana, 10/6/14 |
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| Presumed Buttoned Snout, 8/6/14 |
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| Possible Prays fraxinella, 9/6/14 |
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| Presumed Shears, 8/6/14 |
Next a few uncertain macros, including inevitably a couple of pugs:
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| Possible Eudonia delunella, 12/6/14 |
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| Possible Eudonia lacustrata, 10/6/14 |
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| Possible Eudonia lacustrata, 12/6/14 |
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| Possible Eudonia mercurella, 9/6/14 |
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| Unknown crambid, 9/6/14 |
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| Unknown crambid, 12/6/14 |
Apologies for the sheer numbers (and I'm afraid I've not yet got round to working seriously on the catch from the 13th, though there perhaps aren't too many from that). Steve and Xander Goddard.
Sorry Steve, too many photos for one hit. Look at the guidelines. Sizes please also. First one I'll let someone else confirm it. Second is Pinion-streaked Snout. Prays fraxinella, Shears, some Pugs and an Acleris type, then Crambus lathionellus, Cydia pomonella, your first 3 Scoparids look like Dipleurina lacustrata, then I agree with Eudonia mercurella and the final two I'll pass on.
ReplyDeleteHello Steve, your first image is indeed Phtheochroa sodaliana. I thought it odd that you should get the species at Wolvercote, which is well away from the kind of habitat where I've seen the species, so I checked with Martin Corley (micro recorder for VC23). Martin tells me that it does sometimes occur away from chalk and limestone - for example he's had it on his farm near Faringdon - but it is still a very good record. Nice one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for including the ruler against the second picture as that makes things so much easier. The forewing length is clearly about 10mm so that should have told you that it was too small for Buttoned Snout but exactly right for Pinion-streaked Snout which, as Peter says, is exactly what it is.
Hi Steve, I think the 'possible Acleris sparsana' is Clepsis consimilana.
ReplyDeleteApologies: guidelines noted, and I'll stick to them in future! Thank you in any case for your forbearance in answering, it's much appreciated. Good news, David, about the Phtheochroa sodaliana: I'm glad I checked! -- and I'm unsure how I failed to notice Pinion-streaked Snout was a strong likelihood. Many thanks, all.
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