These specimens (amongst others) turned up on Monday night. Does No 4 have pale enough hind wings to make in Northern? I imagine the others are Winter moth. Thanks, David
Hi David, The image suggests just another ordinary Winter Moth to me but these two are easier to distinguish in the flesh than they are from photos, which rarely show the silkier finish on the forewings of Northern Winter Moth. The latter is also usually larger and its hind-wings protrude further beyond the forewings than do those of Winter Moth, but to appreciate that difference fully you'd probably need to see them side-by-side and fully at rest, not with their wings partially open as they are here. The females are easier to tell apart, but that requires a bit of effort in going tree-trunk spotting after dark!
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteThe image suggests just another ordinary Winter Moth to me but these two are easier to distinguish in the flesh than they are from photos, which rarely show the silkier finish on the forewings of Northern Winter Moth. The latter is also usually larger and its hind-wings protrude further beyond the forewings than do those of Winter Moth, but to appreciate that difference fully you'd probably need to see them side-by-side and fully at rest, not with their wings partially open as they are here. The females are easier to tell apart, but that requires a bit of effort in going tree-trunk spotting after dark!
Thanks, Dave!
ReplyDelete