Seeing the previous post on Yponomeuta, I then had several in the trap yesterday morning.
I did not keep them. Any advice on identification or how to record them appreciated. In the past I have used Y sp.
Thanks
Barnaby Briggs, Iver
A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
Hello Barnaby,
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing to say is that pictures of these Yponomeutids need to be very well lit so we can be absolutely sure that grey areas on the forewing are indeed grey and not just shadow. I think all of your images above are probably of the padella/malinellus/cagnagella trio, but do keep an eye out for rorrella because it has been turning up all over the place. Its grey and white patterning needs to look identical to the first image in Phil Tizzard's report from Saturday - it doesn't seem to vary at all.
In our area we can record to species level Yponomeuta evonymella, rorrella, plumbella & sedella which are all relatively distinctive. The other three (padella, malinellus & cagnagella) can only be recorded to species if they've been reared from larvae on the appropriate food-plant. The Bucks moth database is held on MapMate which recognises "Yponomeuta sp." or "Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella sp." as aggregates so you can record them that way if you so wish, but it is clear from the number of records we have that many people don't bother to submit them at all.