Problems with Plumes

ornithom · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 07:24 PM

Can someone put my mind at rest?!?

The image below is a comparison showing the 2 plumes I caught last night (9th April) in my Derbyshire garden. At first I thought they were both Emmelina monodactyla, but on closer study the left-hand creature is bigger, browner and doesn't have the 'scaled' effect on the side it's body. It also held its wings at a greater angle (more forward-pointing) than the right-hand moth.

So, have I got another Plume (Stenoptilia maybe?) or is it just another example of the variations in moth plumage? No other plumes seem to fit the bill for this time of year, but given the fact that lots of May species have been turning up, maybe it could be another plume that should still be sleeping!

Your help is much appreciated!

Regards

Steve T

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 03:02 PM

Both Emmelina for me.

Cheers,

Adam

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 03:08 PM

How widespread is E.argoteles?

ornithom · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 05:09 PM

Adam,

Thanks for the reply, can you give me any justifications for you choosing Emmelina and not Stenoptilia (or another)?

Dogghound - Surely can't be argoteles?? That'd be a hell of a spread from Wicken Fen in 5 years for such a tiny beast!

Cheers

Steve T