This very small moth is from the clothes moth family, Tineidae, but is a completely harmless free-living species with caterpillars that feed on lichens on trees and rocks. It is Infurcitinea argentimaculella, which has been given the rather misleading name of Silver-barred Clothes moth. Found in Doddershall Wood, Bucks, it was a new species for me. It is listed as a local species nationally, but quite widespread in the south. Dave Wilton informs me that it is rare in Buckinghamshire, and the only previous Bucks record I can find is from Ian Sims at Medmenham in 1995 (which is listed in the micro-moth distribution maps on the BC website). (I'm not aware of any Berkshire records since 1986.) I guess is likely to be overlooked due to its size, and it seems to be a day-flyer.
If anyone would like to suggest a better English name for this or any other moth, Douglas Boyes is currently asking for information on suggested moth names. This is a topic on which people seem to have strong and varying opinions! If you'd like to contribute any alternative moth names you can do so via Douglas's questionnaire.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.