I've just lit the lamp for the first time in ages and it reminded me to ask if it might be possible to identify this Plume which came on 19 November. Since then I've had many a December moth so my list of 'usuals' is now complete. Many thanks in anticipation, even if the answer is 'No'. Merry Christmas and thanks for all the help, interest and fun during the year. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon.
Hi Martin,
ReplyDeleteBy the second half of November it would have to be one of the plumes which over-winters as an adult and they are Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, A.punctidactyla and Emmelina monodactyla. The first two are quite nicely marked so your plain example can really only be the very common monodactyla, on which the ground colour varies considerably between light grey and dark brown. The inner pair of spurs on the hind-leg (where one should be longer than the other) would clinch the ID but this isn't really clear on those pictures thanks to the shadows.
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours too!