I have been looking at the many wainscots arriving here more closely than usual, following Dave's post about his Cosmopolitan the other day. I wondered if this one, resting near my MV light, is a Webb's - again, following Dave's mention of the species on 19 August. Unusually for me, I have been organised to keep the moth temporarily, so can take more pics if needed. To my eye, the colouring of the first two photos is normal and the lighting on the third has made the moth appear more beige. Help much appreciated, as always. I am near the canal and Cherwell. And thanks again, Dave, for putting me on the alert; I'd not have noticed it otherwise. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon
Hello Martin,
ReplyDeleteYes, that is Webb's Wainscot, well spotted. I think the most likely confusion species locally is Bulrush Wainscot based superficially on size and shape (male Bulrush also has the abdomen protruding beyond the end of the wings), but Bulrush doesn't have that dark central stripe which usually forms a ring around the kidney mark making it into an obvious lighter "spot". It is clear from the BC Atlas that the moth's expansion means that it no longer deserves the Nationally Scarce B-list status given in the field guide (Nb = recorded only from between 31 and 100 10km squares since 1980).