odd coloured conehead ?

Rambling Rob · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:07 PM

Hello,

I think this is another female Long-winged Conehead - there are a lot about the cliffs at Yaverland, IoW just now - but all others I have seen were a bright green. This one spotted today on Bristly Ox-tongue stood out for being rather pale. Is there much colour variation in the adults?

Thanks for looking,
Rob

ChrisR · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:11 PM

Looks like LW Conehead to me ... when they are juvenile they are might brighter green with a contrasting black stripe down their backs but when they mature into adults they usually take on a browner look

thunder · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:37 PM

Adults are browmn underneath, but occasionally all brown forms occur

henrya

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 08:46 PM

Evening Rob,

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder

Adults are browmn underneath, but occasionally all brown forms occur

My thoughts too.

Take care,

Jason

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 05:56 AM

I've only seen 1 brown Long-winged Conehead like this in the London area (+ I've seen hundreds); all the others have been green.

Apparently some populations do show a higher incidence of brown forms. It's believed that this species colonised the west country separately (+ later) than those in the south/east from the continent + the former populations show more brown insects.

Rambling Rob · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:41 PM

Thanks all for info.

Aeshna, that's interesting about the two populations. I wonder if natural selection will favour one population over the other. Where this one was photographed the surroundings are mainly pale brownish clay and sand, for which brown would be a useful camouflage, but then again the insect spends most of its time feeding on bright yellow Ragwort and Fleabane. Then again (again..) its predators may see colours differently to us...I think I'll give up on that theory.

Rob