Martin wondered if my recent post was a Sallow rather than a Poplar Kitten. It didn't seem a "classic" Poplar due to the thickness of the black rear edge of the crossband or the thin black lines closer to the rear edge. But the black edge on the crossband seemed smooth rather than jagged. So what's the verdict?
Andrew Cornick West Oxfordshire SU2685
Nice pictures! Sallow Kitten for me, Andrew, but these two can be quite difficult to separate and it also helps to have the moth in hand so that you can gauge its size (Sallow being noticeably smaller than Poplar). Not something that can be relied on for an ID these days, but I have plenty of April records for Sallow but for me Poplar doesn't usually appear until well into May.
ReplyDeleteOK, that's helpful thank you. So I've added one more picture of it on the brickwork behind the trap. The pointing is 10mm. The book says Sallow 14-18mm, Poplar 16-22mm. Is this measured from wingtip to front foot or head? If it's wingtip to headtip I'd estimate it at 16-18mm length.
DeleteJust to be clear, the measurement of wing length given in the field guides is from wing-tip to where it joins the thorax. Some older guides like Skinner used wing-span, meaning the measurement from wing-tip to wing-tip (including thorax) with the wings wide open.
DeleteThat's great Dave thanks. So I've redone the measurement on wing-tip to thorax; ~15mm; firmly in Sallow territory. Thanks everybody for all the information.
DeleteI agree with Dave. the lines are fairly smooth but not smooth enough! Sallow Kitten is much commoner than Poplar Kitten. You will know Poplar Kitten when you see it, partly as Dave says from the size. Watch out for female Sallow Kittens but these are much scarcer in light traps in these species. Its a nice fresh exmaple and those are excellent photos.
ReplyDelete