Gold moth for ID please

[Toby]

seen today, c.4mm

[Fourwings]

Its almost certainly a Micropterix species, most likely Micropterix calthella, but from your image I couldn't rule out Micropterix aruncella.

Links to both species on UK moths are below.

UKMoths - Micropterix calthella
UKMoths - Micropterix aruncella

Very nice image of such a tiny moth, well done.

[Toby]

thanks and I now notice my new Moth guide by Waring & Townsend only covers macro-moths which rules a lot out.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Toby

thanks and I now notice my new Moth guide by Waring & Townsend only covers macro-moths which rules a lot out.

I use Waring & Townsend, plus Skinner for Macro species, I use Goater for the Pyralid species.
I then use UK Moths for everything else, it really takes a bit of beating.

To be honest its highly unlikely that a good field guide dedicted solely to micro species will ever be produced, there are just too many of them, plus many species can only be identified by performing genetalia disection.

[andy68]

It's Eriocrania subpurpurella. Feeds on oak and is on the wing now, flying by day and night. See UKMoths - Eriocrania subpurpurella for a photo.

Andy

[Toby]

Originally Posted by andy68

It's Eriocrania subpurpurella. Feeds on oak and is on the wing now, flying by day and night. See UKMoths - Eriocrania subpurpurella for a photo.

Andy

that's the one, thanks for ID