White-marked?

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 11:54 AM

Hello all,

I got this on 4th September. I haven't seen one like it before and was wondering if it was just a well marked Square-spot Rustic. After looking around once more I came across the White-marked, it certainly seems to fit the bill.

The edges of the kidney shape look a little smudged but the shape itself seems to have more of a double leaf shape than the Square-spot Rustic but some are close, besides the white is so stark.

One more feature of the White-marked I noticed is an upcurving thin white line on the collar which is present in the White-marked but I haven't seen it in most Square-spot Rustic, however there are some which look to have that too.

The flight period doesn't tally with what I'm finding though, March and April! Maybe it can have a later brood?

There's a photo on Lepiforum which looks rather like mine, the shape seems a little narrower and more elongated too.

Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums: Cerastis Leucographa

Janet

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 12:18 PM

Square-spot Rustic for me.

Cheers,

Adam

Julian Howe · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 01:07 PM

This is what I've been calling Square spot rustic, so I hope it is

JRsbugs · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 03:40 PM

Cheers Adam, given the time of year that would be logical. But, if you saw the same moth in spring I wonder what you would think then?

Julian, I assume you have also had these with the very white spots?

Having not seen one before I can't say for sure what it is, there's often an exception to the rule and in this instance that would be the flight time. Other than the smudged ends to the kidney shape it looks to match the White-marked more to me.

I would be interested to know how many people have seen a Square-spot with such white spots, I can only find one which doesn't quite have the same amount of white.

Julian Howe · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 04:32 PM

Hi Janet,

The square spots I've caught do seem to vary quite a bit. Just had a look at some of my photos, yours does seem to have brighter white/gold spots, but I'm pretty sure it's a SSR.

Cheers

Julian

MetalMoth · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 04:33 PM

Interesting. I agree at first I would have said Square-spot Rustic but having looked at pics of both on UKMoths website I would say it looks a little more like White-marked. I will have to have a look at both in my moth book to see what I think in more detail.

JRsbugs · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 06:15 PM

Thanks Julian, I think this is where we need to think outside the box 'just in case'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalMoth

Interesting. I agree at first I would have said Square-spot Rustic but having looked at pics of both on UKMoths website I would say it looks a little more like White-marked. I will have to have a look at both in my moth book to see what I think in more detail.

Have you looked at the photo on the German site MM? That is so similar it could almost be a twin!

I am interested to see what is said about variations etc. in your book.

tristanba · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

But, if you saw the same moth in spring I wonder what you would think then?

that it was a Square-spot Rustic which had emerged too early!

Adam Cheeseman · #9 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Cheers Adam, given the time of year that would be logical. But, if you saw the same moth in spring I wonder what you would think then?

In Spring I would be certain that it wasn't a Square-spot Rustic.

Cheers,

Adam

MetalMoth · #10 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 07:38 PM

After a look in the Waring and Townsend book it looks much more like a Square-spot Rustic and not much like a White-marked. I would say I am much more inclined to ID it as a Square-spot Rustic, the flight period differences also suite it being this moth.