Moth ident: is this a micro?

Dan Salter · #1 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 12:24 PM

This came to light when i trapped on wed night..

I cant seem to match it to anything?...i thought tawny speckled pug (but with mysterious eyes) until i DID get a tawny speckled pug and realised it wasnt?

It also sat with wings closed...and was about same shape as the blue butterflies but its not a butterfly...which can only mean its some kind of micro hence why i cant match it to my books?...

CapAndBracket · #2 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 12:56 PM

I suspect this is Chloroclysta truncata, a very worn version of the common marbled carpet. Waring shows this nicely as one of many wing patterns.

Cheers J.P.

Dan Salter · #3 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 01:16 PM

Ah of course it is im such a dunce.

I was kind of looking for a match of that white circular eye....but i guess its not really that. it doesnt match warings pic exactly but a combination of some of those variants would do...i seenow the 'eye' is infact the remains of the barring

CapAndBracket · #4 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 01:27 PM

Take heart young man, i feel a dunce having spent the last week on a course with David brown (the square spot rustic i find a visual nightmare in all it's various guises).

Cheers J.P.

Dan Salter · #5 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

Take heart young man, i feel a dunce having spent the last week on a course with David brown (the square spot rustic i find a visual nightmare in all it's various guises).

Cheers J.P.

Who is David Brown? (or should i know that?)

The word 'rustic' as a whole makes me sweat...such a bloomin confusing lot!...square spot rustics drive me nuts....can there really be that may versions and varying sizes or am i calling things square spot rustic when its not?...eeek

also...i just looked through the 'chinnery' collins complete insects pictoral guide and there pics of rustic/uncertain and also vines rustic make me think i have passed up on a zillion 'vines' rustics thinking they were rustic/uncertain sp.

poschiavanus · #6 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 05:41 PM

David Brown is Warwickshire Recorder for Macros, and has been since 1971. He knows a bit about moths.

He runs quite a few courses around Britain through the mothing year, many at Field Study Centres. I'll probably go on one next year to learn how little I really know.

posch(iavanus)

Dan Salter · #7 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 06:04 PM

Sounds like a good idea....

CapAndBracket · #8 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 06:08 PM

He sure knows a bit about lepidoptera and is a dam nice chap as well,
on these courses we get well fed and have a real good time based at some old country house.

There are usually courses at kindrogan in scotland, castle head in lake district, snowdonia, alston hall lancarshire, gibralter point lincolnshire, preston montford shropshire, malham tarn yorkshire and swanage in dorset. the last one i believe isn't fully booked yet for 27th to 31st october.

I've only been on a few of these, just back from one at dorset site where we saw 140+ species.

Cheers J.P.

Dan Salter · #9 (**permalink**) 30-08-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

He sure knows a bit about lepidoptera and is a dam nice chap as well,
on these courses we get well fed and have a real good time based at some old country house.

There are usually courses at kindrogan in scotland, castle head in lake district, snowdonia, alston hall lancarshire, gibralter point lincolnshire, preston montford shropshire, malham tarn yorkshire and swanage in dorset. the last one i believe isn't fully booked yet for 27th to 31st october.

I've only been on a few of these, just back from one at dorset site where we saw 140+ species.

Cheers J.P.

Well out of all those swanage is the closest (but still miles away) so ill maybe try and get on it provided it doesnt clash with my uni timetable.

naturegirl · #10 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 01:05 AM

Can't we get them to do one in Kent, there are loads of moth-friendly people here who would find the time (if not the money!) to go along.

There are lots of WABbers who are local to Kent too.

Re: your moth Dan, my mate Bernard always taught me to put on colourless glasses when looking at moths. That way you will look at the markings, not the colours and it works! It has been something I will always remember that's for sure.

Why do you have a problem with Square spot rustic?

I had an even larger Old lady in my trap last night! That's 2 in a week and never seen before!! Cool!

Naturegirl