Moth I.D. required please

highlander2004 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 05:17 PM

Hi there,

found this spikey looking moth deep in long grass hanging upside down. I would greatly appreciate an I.D. please.

wildlifesnapper · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 06:54 PM

Hi

it looks like a Common Rustic/Lesser Common Rustic.
These two can only be told apart under the microscope

neil

highlander2004 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 08:13 PM

Thanks Wildlifesnapper. The mind boggles at what the lesser is if you have to check with a microscope!

naturegirl · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 01:10 AM

My friend 'Bernard Skinner' says that 'The lesser common rustic' has a little dot each side of the discal spot.

I cannot argue with that as he is the recognised expert in this field (and a mate of mine!).

Naturegirl

Dan Salter · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 01:16 AM

the I.D aside highlander....that is a GREAT pic!

naturegirl · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 01:20 AM

AWWWWW Dan, you are SUCH a smoothie!!!!!!

You naughty boy you!!!

How is the id-ing of your micros coming along? Hic!

Naturegirl (don't you EVER sleep>)

Dan Salter · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturegirl

AWWWWW Dan, you are SUCH a smoothie!!!!!!

You naughty boy you!!!

How is the id-ing of your micros coming along? Hic!

Naturegirl (don't you EVER sleep>)

Eh?...wasnt turning on the smooth...as i presume highlander is a guy? (not sure why i presume that)

As for the micro id's....i dont have any book yet that contains micros so im only going to get id's when i upload pics here which i hate as uploading to wab is such a confusing mine field...and what seems to work one day does not let you upload the next...

Also...my diss is solely MACRO based for obvious reasons...but if i get any pretty/unual looking micros i take a pic.

I do get a bit worried though....as scattered throughout paul warings excellent macro moth guide are those macros which are tiny...micro size and i often wonder how many of these i pass by thinking they are just micro? eeek

I know the book is sorted by family etc....but if it was my book i would also have put all the tiny ones on one page at the back...under (possibly confused with micro moths) ha ha

Going back to macros i have just ordered the Poyser 'Enjoying moths' and the Poyser 'The Natural History of Moths' plus the NN (paperback) 'Moths' by Majerus....as well as subscribing to Atropos Journal! Yay

Who has the NN E.b.Ford Moths? 1940's?....is it worth me getting or does the Majerus cover it all plus more recent?

naturegirl · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 09:07 PM

Dan, don't confuse yourself with too many books, it will give you mind melt-down!!

I started with Skinner's book and I've stuck with it as I know exactly where to look for each moth.

As you have said, there are some quite small moths that come under the title of Macros. Just try and know which ones they are.

Do you have a copy of Skinner's book?

Naturegirl

Dan Salter · #9 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 09:46 PM

Ahh no dont worry missy....i am only using the 2 Waring books (lewington) the big one and the new concise one for my id/trapping.

But for a dissertation i have to practically write a book on moths...including the ecology (life cycle, habitats, feeding, evoloution, taxonomy..blah blah..) as wel as incluing my own research project.

So as much moth related literature the better.....like, i have only just discovered that some british moths have ears!...and can hear the bats and not only that...some moths can make their own sounds to confuse and mimic the bats call! genius!...evolutionary arms race! and i want to know (as i havent ever found one yet) who on here has made a deaths head moth squeek?