Agriphila selasella or Agriphila tristella?

djeyewater · #1 (**permalink**) 13-08-2010, 08:30 PM

This moth was probably around 15mm long, it was in the lawn and would fly to a new perch every so often. The photos were taken about 3pm a couple of days ago. Looking at the UKmoths website, it looks to me like Agriphila selasella or Agriphila tristella.

Looking at one side of it, it looks like it has the 'fingers' branching away from the white streak:

But looking at the other side, the streak looks more grey than white, and I can't see any 'fingers':

I'm not sure what the 'facial cone' is that UKmoths says in much reduced in A. selasella?

Thanks

Dave

GuyF · #2 (**permalink**) 13-08-2010, 09:08 PM

I'm not sure what a facial cone is either I'm afraid, but I think this is Agriphila tristella.
Guy

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 13-08-2010, 09:08 PM

I had one similar on 31st July, it was big too, much bigger than other Agriphila I've had.

Could be Agriphila inquinatella

Janet

John · #4 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 07:01 AM

That's the one I would go for as well.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyF

I'm not sure what a facial cone is either I'm afraid, but I think this is Agriphila tristella.
Guy

djeyewater · #5 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 09:38 AM

Thanks everyone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I had one similar on 31st July, it was big too, much bigger than other Agriphila I've had.

Could be Agriphila inquinatella

Janet

Thanks for the suggestion, my 15mm estimate was only a guess. Really I need a notepad and pen taped to my camera to remind me to take notes on the size etc. at the time I take the photo.

Dave

peter2009 · #6 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 11:34 AM

Agree with Guy,A inquinatella has a distinctive brown patch halfway down body.

JRsbugs · #7 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 12:41 PM

I had more than one moth at the same time, they all looked to belong to each other as the size was probably around 15mm, I've never seen any Agriphila that big and they were noticably bigger. I guess the size too, and I'm mostly somewhere close.

I have pics of two with a dark mark, one without. They might be variable according to sex perhaps? Or just a little variable anyway?

I should upload my pics for comparison, if my connection doesn't cut out again on me!

JRsbugs · #8 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 12:57 PM

Here's 3 different moths, all taken on the same early morning

.

Lucky for me the one without the dark mark has it's end over a gap between the bricks, the house is old and some gaps are variable but you can see the moth is easily 15mm long or more, and it belongs with the other two.

The first two were taken at 2.53 and 2.59am, the other at 3.19am. See what you get for staying up early!

GuyF · #9 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Here's 3 different moths, all taken on the same early morning

.

Lucky for me the one without the dark mark has it's end over a gap between the bricks, the house is old and some gaps are variable but you can see the moth is easily 15mm long or more, and it belongs with the other two.

The first two were taken at 2.53 and 2.59am, the other at 3.19am. See what you get for staying up early!

People may be interested in the excellent guide to these moths produced by the Berkshire moth group (it's a large pdf file!) - http://www.dorsetmothgroup.org.uk/Su...d2_March09.pdf

In the species comparisons on page 2 of that guide it shows A. tristella and A. selasella to be larger on average than A. inquinatella so I'm not too sure about the identity of your first moth Janet, but the other two look good for A. inquinatella.
However, I've only just started looking at crambids so I may well be completely wrong

Guy

JRsbugs · #10 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 02:25 PM

Helpful pdf Guy, thanks!

I find by looking at different moth sites you pick up on different points, and variations. Check the picks on Norfolk Moths

I did get other grass veneers on the same night, not sure if they are named correctly as I used to get muddled with these too but this year I think I'm getting the eye for them.

Strange that A. inquinatella is said to be smaller than the others, mine were huge by comparison! Agriphila straminella seems to be smaller in general than A. tristella too, but these beat them both well and truly.

Maybe I should upload the others from the same night too, much the same times, there was a lot about. I'll leave the names on as I have named them, see what you think. I have named one A. selasella, it is found away from the coast and I do have coastal species, there's gravel pit lakes around Lincoln besides they feed on Sheep's Fescue.