Moths to confirm please

Julian Howe · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 09:21 AM

Morning All,

These 3 were in trap this morning, any help much appreciated.

1. Common or Smoky Wainscot?
2. Eudonia Pallida?
3. Square Spot Rustic? bit different to the other SSR's I was catching.

Many thanks,

Julian

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 10:08 AM

Could be the Southern Wainscot, one I have. The wing tip has a more curved edge which yours seems to have.

Agree with Eudonia pallida.

Well, what do I say about the "Square-spot Rustic?"

You don't suppose we have had a few drift over from the continent?

Maybe this has been an exceptional extended season? LOL!

Cerastis

It even has those dark vertical lines you see on many Cerastis leucographa!

Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums: Cerastis Leucographa

Julian Howe · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 11:10 AM

Thanks Janet. I have had the Wainscot confirmed as a Common, the square spot rustic debate rumbles on

MetalMoth · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 11:26 AM

A tip for separating Common from Smoky Wainscot is to pull back the forewing to look at the hindwing underneath. If it is grey coloured it is Smoky and if it is white it is Common!

Julian Howe · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 11:45 AM

Thanks Metal Moth! I'll remember that.

Just had an expert tell me, that he's not convinced you find smoky wainscots in England after the middle of August, you do in Scotland though.

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 12:00 PM

I just read the description of the Common and Southern on Hants Moths, they give good pointers. I can now see yours if the Common Julian but the tip of the wing is something of a mystery to me.

I was told by someone here with many years experience mine was the Southern because of the more curved tip, they also have a darker collar.

I have read somewhere about the hindwing colour of the Smoky, it's on Hants Moths so that's probably where! I have shots of one last year which has more of a dark brown underwing, something like a brown mahogany colour! I named it the Southern as it looked like the one I had identified but now I'm not so sure!

I had another not long ago that had extremely narrow wings, with a rich reddish tint. I decided it was probably the Common, but seeing there is the Obscure with much narrower wings I'm left wondering! It doesn't have a curved row of spots though.

Hants Moths - 2197 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea

Julian Howe · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 12:13 PM

I understand I'm unlikely to have Southern Wainscot here in Oxford, and the common (I have found out) can have dark streaks especially the later generation, common are also reddish coloured as well.

I agree though, it's not always easy to tell, I'm glad I have 2 very helpful county recorders!

nutmeg · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 12:22 PM

Julian, a character of Southern Wainscot is a band, sometimes referred to as a tiara, across the 'forehead' - so it's useful to get a head-on shot.

I always look at hind wing colour to check Smoky and Common. I've been getting Smoky as recently as last weekend, so still on the wing.

Julian Howe · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 12:29 PM

Thanks Nutmeg, I will pay a bit more attention to Wainscots in the future

Oh and I have just found out no. 3 is a square spot rustic, and not some foreign immigrant!

JRsbugs · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 01:59 PM

I found an ebook which has great descriptions!

Read the ebook Illustrated natural history of British butterflies and moths; by Edward Newman

Pages numbered at the bottom.

I searched for the book and found a very reasonably priced one on Abe Books for only £15 + p&P, with text engravings so I had to buy it!

It's from 1871!

They have others but I think I got the best one, it's not showing now of course but the enlarged photo might show here..

Abebooks