I found this presumed pyralid this evening in the house. Lots of windows open, so presumed to have flown in, several other moths, craneflies etc.present.
Forewing length 12mm. The size seems to rule out most things that look similar, mostly adventive Vitula / Ephestia spp.
Suggestions most welcome!
Voucher retained!
Neil Fletcher
Walter's Ash, VC24
Hi Neil,
ReplyDeleteMaybe not quite so interesting after all - have a look at Aphomia sociella.
Thanks Dave, I can see what you mean. I've never seen one this small or with that combination of markings. I think you are right, but I'll ask Peter to chop it, just in case. (Ever the optimist!)
DeleteWhat I find interesting about it, apart from the sexual dimorphism is that I probably get 20-30 females to light for every male. Don't know if that is due to a natural gender imbalence in the population or whether it's just the females that are generally attracted. If so, that's sort of the opposite of many other species? Never seen a female Muslin Moth.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a PhD project for someone! If there is an imbalance at all, one reason might be because the female is in more danger because she has to re-enter the hive to lay eggs, whereas the male could be said to have a rather easier life. In the case of Muslin Moth the female is mainly a day-flyer, although that's completely opposite to the strategy adopted by others such as Fox Moth, Oak Eggar and Emperor where, generally speaking, it is the male which flies during the day. Beyond that of course, why are some nocturnal moths rarely attracted to light at all? So many unanswered questions...
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