This photo was sent to me by someone who has just started moth trapping in the village.
He suggested a White-banded Carpet which seems unlikely but I am struggling to suggest alternatives.
Andy Newbold, Sibford Ferris, Oxon.
A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
Why not Common Carpet?
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what others might think, Andy, but I'd go for Common Carpet which can be quite variable.
ReplyDeleteThank you both. I think we were missing the obvious!
ReplyDeleteHi Andy I see your problem with this. I only have a single specimen (the Hertfordshire one mentioned in the guide) so had to use several references, but after a long hard look at it I believe this to be a rather unusual and/or badly photographed Common Carpet. The main reason is that although there is a shadow/slight blurred area over the central part of the moth, I can see that the postmedian (outer central) white band continues the same thickness on the hindwing as on the forewing and has the thin dark central line through it as on the forewing. On White-banded Carpet that white band is nearly always much broader on the hindwing and is pure white. Other things are that White-banded has a more evenly darkened median band on the forewing and is less inclined to sit with part of the hindwings showing. Moreover, Common Carpet can be quite dark in the basal and sub-basal area of the forewing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the detailed description. I will pass it on to the person who caught it.
ReplyDelete