A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
Sunday, 16 June 2019
Which Nematopogon? (Longwick)
Fairly drab catch on Friday night with only Barred Straw and Juniper Webber new for the year. However I did get this rather flighty critter. I am hoping the two, both rather poor, photos are enough evidence to suggest metaxella. One shows a distinct wing mark whilst the other shows the extent of the scale of the antennae which looks right?
Hi Andrew. I am getting quite a few of these at the moment. I always put these smaller examples with an obvious mark on the wing down as metaxella.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd go for a male metaxella too. That mark (and general size and wing-shape) would rule out the larger swammerdamella and the antennae are too long for schwarziellus. N.metaxella is common in the garden here but I've only ever had schwarziellus the once.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks both - very helpful. On a different note I have just found what might be psychoides verhuella on the front door - its the right size, metallic black and I thought it was Tineidae from the tent shape. Its a little too lively for a photo right now but also has pale legs which matches too. How common is it in Bucks and are there any confusion species?
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew, the adult P. verhuella lacks the white tornal spot of P. filicivora which, to my knowledge, is the only confusion species. I don't know how common it is in Bucks but I found 50+ larval cases on our Hart's Tongue Ferns back in 2017.
ReplyDeleteThe Bucks database has 3 records for P. filicivora and about a dozen for P. verhuella. I suspect both are under recorded. If you have any ferns in the garden inspect them for signs of the larvae.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is Oxfordshire, I get large numbers of P. filicivora around my Hart's tongue ferns on sunny days. Last year one was dissected for confirmation.
ReplyDelete