The timing and to some extent the relative absence of a clear discal spot suggest to me that both are indeed Brindled Pug. The main features are the pale post-median line being bi-angulate near to the costa and the dark 'arrowheads' that sit on that line pointing basally (I look out especially for the two stronger ones near to the dorsum). The Oak-tree Pug is very similar but on average appears a bit later in the year and is smaller but they overlap, so difficult to distinguish except that the discal spot can be stronger and is usually somewhat rounded on Oak-tree while that of the Brindled is usually narrowly linear. I have read that the pale patch in which the discal spot lies (you can see it on both your specimens) is more typical of Oak-tree but to me it seems to be present also on Brindled. I hope that Dave agrees with this- as you say Pugs can be difficult!
Ha - we all hate Pugs! Or at least trying to ID them correctly from pictures! I agree with John that the second one is Brindled Pug based on wing shape, those obvious inward-pointing black wedges and the fairly weak linear discal spot. However, for the first one the shorter fore-wing and almost total lack of a discal spot points me more towards Common Pug. I haven't seen one yet this year but it can start flying during the first week of April.
Hi Nick,
ReplyDeleteThe timing and to some extent the relative absence of a clear discal spot suggest to me that both are indeed Brindled Pug. The main features are the pale post-median line being bi-angulate near to the costa and the dark 'arrowheads' that sit on that line pointing basally (I look out especially for the two stronger ones near to the dorsum). The Oak-tree Pug is very similar but on average appears a bit later in the year and is smaller but they overlap, so difficult to distinguish except that the discal spot can be stronger and is usually somewhat rounded on Oak-tree while that of the Brindled is usually narrowly linear. I have read that the pale patch in which the discal spot lies (you can see it on both your specimens) is more typical of Oak-tree but to me it seems to be present also on Brindled. I hope that Dave agrees with this- as you say Pugs can be difficult!
Ha - we all hate Pugs! Or at least trying to ID them correctly from pictures! I agree with John that the second one is Brindled Pug based on wing shape, those obvious inward-pointing black wedges and the fairly weak linear discal spot. However, for the first one the shorter fore-wing and almost total lack of a discal spot points me more towards Common Pug. I haven't seen one yet this year but it can start flying during the first week of April.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments and identification pointers John and Dave. They clearly are very tricky....!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Nic