Plume Moth ID

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Anyone got any ideas for this little stunner....



Cheers Jacob

[Davidg]

Hi Jacob,

I think this is probably just Emmelina monodactyla, especially if it was caught recently. It varies like mad but is easily the commonest of all the plumes.

David

[clicka15]

Hi Jacob,

Yes, I'd say Emmelina monodactyla. I had one the other night holding its wings like this. I had to have a closer look, thinking it was another species, but then it shifted and folded its wings into the familiar position.

I've had a good week's mothing - including a couple of Green-brindled Crescents. The warm temperatures have been regularly bringing 15-20 visitors each night, including plenty of micro species. Not bad for this time of year.

Steve.

PS: Jacob, have you had a look at the website of the Butterfly Conservation Sussex branch? There's a sightings page for moths and butterflies.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I had mine outlast night and I only caught the plume moth...I caught plenty of midges and cranefly but no moths...any ideas?!

Cheers Jacob

[andy68]

A quick way to tell monodactyla from other plume species is to look at the uppermost pair of 'spurs' on the hindlegs: if one is about twice the length of the other one, it's monodactyla. If they're about the same length, it's something else.

I can't tell the length of the spurs from this photo, but it probably is monodactyla as there aren't many other plumes flying at this time of year.

Andy

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I caught this very early in my trap....at about 4.30pm Are they fairly early flyers or was it just on the off chance?

Cheers Jacob

[Davidg]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

I caught this very early in my trap....at about 4.30pm Are they fairly early flyers or was it just on the off chance?

Cheers Jacob

They seem to be amongst the first moths to turn up at my trap as well and I quite often see them flying during the day.

David

[clicka15]

Originally Posted by Davidg

They seem to be amongst the first moths to turn up at my trap as well and I quite often see them flying during the day.

David

They seem to prefer my kitchen to to the Skinner trap! I've found the early flyers in my garden are Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moths). They turn up in numbers evry time I switch on early.