Pyrausta purpuralis - aurata

[goosey]

Is there a quick, at a glance way of being able to tell the difference between the P. Purpuralis and P aurata? We have loads in the garden which I had put down to all being P. aurata but the more I look, I see varying colours from brown to crimson and differing amount of gold spots. Thanks.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Hi Goosey,

Generally, aurata has one yellow blotch on its forewings, whereas purpuralis has three blotches in line that are connected by untidy yellow line.
Have you had a look at UKMoths

Cheers,

Adam

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Hi Goosey,

Generally, aurata has one yellow blotch on its forewings, whereas purpuralis has three blotches in line that are connected by untidy yellow line.
Have you had a look at UKMoths

Cheers,

Adam

Great Adam, thanks - they are deffinitly Pyrausta aurata in the garden - I was begining to doubt myself.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by goosey

Great Adam, thanks - they are deffinitly Pyrausta aurata in the garden - I was begining to doubt myself.

Have just seen one in my garden around the Marjoram. Usually common in the garden, but much scarcer this year, no doubt weather related!

[sleepinabox]

I would agree with that - not many at all this year - I usually have a lot and cannot walk up the garden path without disturbing them but this year only had a couple early on.

Rose

[wyevilla]

Goosey

This is one of the very few errors in my copy of Chinnery*. Clearly someone has got muddled as the illustration is noted as P. aurata whereas it is without doubt P. purpuralis.

However, it is one of the easier mistakes to make!

Majoram is definitely a preferred plant species. we have a small clump next to the pond which always yields a few.

(*Insects of Britain & Western Europe, Michael Chinnery, Collins Pocket Guide, HarperCollins, London, 1986)

[sleepinabox]

Yes mine are always mostly on marjoram but they do seem to like resting on lemon balm too
Rose

[wyevilla]

Hi Rose

A good argument for having a herb garden as part of a wildlife garden! Good for bees and hoverflies too.