Gold coloured moth with tiny blue and pink flecks

[Bruce Williams]

Stockgrove Country Park, Beds.

Help with identification appreciated:



Bruce

[RobSutton]

Could be Eriocrania subpurpurella?

PS - a cracking photograph!

[bigdave60dog]

I always marvel at your photos Bruce. How do you keep the camera still enough to get that definition? Mine always wobbles just a bit. Not noticeable till the pic is cropped. I am usually disappointed even more on enlarging.
Dave

[Hedera]

What a beautiful little creature! How big was it? A lovely photo fit to frame.

[paulewatts]

Yes - definitely Eriocrania subpurpurella and what a superb shot. Well done Bruce!

There's an interesting pic on the UK moths website with a pair in cop and showing one as the uncommon form fastuosella which yours could well be - viz: heavily purple-spotted.

Eriocrania subpurpurella - UKMoths

Paul Watts
Shrops

[Bruce Williams]

Rob - Thanks for your help with id - always appreciated.

Dave - Thank you for your comments. I almost always use diffused flash (manually controlled twin heads) when shooting in the field (1/250th at typically f/14) which helps to freeze the subject.

Thanks for your comments Hedera - Length is ~6.5mm so I'm guessing wingspan must be around 14mm?

Paul - Thanks for your comments, the link and for confirmation of id. - much appreciated.

I wonder if it's possible to id gender?

Bruce

[Graham Barker]

i concur....a fab photo...though i wouldnt be able to i.d. it....so will simply agree with others....

bruce...what camera are you using?....i use a nikon coolpix vr 12.1 and although the photos are good i reckon your one is the dogs b@ll@cks...

graham

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for your enthusiastic comments Graham - most appreciated!

I use the Nikon D300 DSLR with a 105mm macro lens together with the Nikon SB-R1 twin-head close-up flash system, see: Nikon | Imaging Products | Nikon Close-up Speedlight Kits

Bruce