May I ask for advice on whether this is a Lesser- or Lunar-spotted Pinion? Other nice moths continue to arrive here, including an abundance of hawks (but no Pine yet), a Drinker and a Leopard. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon
A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
Hi Martin, that is Lunar-spotted Pinion.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Adam. Much appreciated. M
ReplyDeleteThere's still time yet for Pine Hawk, Martin - my first for the garden this year turned up only a couple of nights ago.
ReplyDeleteWith those two Pinions, they do actually look a little more different in the flesh than the images in the field guide might suggest. Lunar is pinkish whereas Lesser is brownish. They also tend to sit in slightly different ways, Lesser often taking up a dome-shape while Lunar is tent-like. On Lesser you also have those two "eyes" staring out at you from the centre of the wing! I don't have all that many Lesser records (only 16 individuals) but almost without exception they seem to appear in the last week of July and first week of August, so perhaps still a bit early yet locally.
Thanks v much Dave -as per post above all v best M
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