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Wednesday, 8 February 2023

ID teaser

 Hi there,

I can't work out what this is - it's from August 19th last year.

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks, David




6 comments:

  1. Hi David. Well, as you have described this as a teaser, I will offer a teaser as a reply!

    Take a look at the Acrobasis genus in the field guide and pay close attention to the orientation of the two small dark dots at about two-thirds.

    Hope this helps!

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  2. Hi Tim,
    Many thanks! I think your helpful pointers make this A advenella. Am I right? This was a really useful approach from you, helping me learn more about this particular group - thanks again, David

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  3. Hi David. I reckon it is Acrobasis advenella because of the dots being on a diagonal line (pointing towards the tornus), the brighter silvery patch in the same area and the faint grey line at about 1/3 in front of the whiter line at the dorsum.

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  4. Hi David,
    You got there! Actually I'm not sure that the spots were quite as helpful as another feature in this particular case: the red head/thorax (surprisingly not mentioned in the field guide or in Goater) should instantly tell you that this is likely to be advenella, then check that other features conform. In the same way, an Acrobasis with a tan-coloured thorax and wing basal area is indicative of repandana. Both are common in our area, particularly in woodland but also in gardens. Of the others, consociella & suavella are also common but you are very unlikely to see tumidana (not yet known from Bucks) or marmorea (only six Bucks records).

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  5. Very helpful explanations as usual, Dave. Thank you.

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