20 June 2015 - Kudos to the Moth

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)

Last night's moth evening turned out better than expected.  Only two species were visible in the trap but beneath the egg-boxes there were more and particularly bright examples.  The Garden Carpet and Green Carpet looked as fresh and bright as they could be.  But nothing new for the list.  This morning I was watching a spotted flycatcher investigate a gap above the old dairy building when I brought my focus back into the kitchen to see a moth I hadn't seen before.  It was resting on one of the panes and I couldn't recall seeing a moth with broken orange markings on its wings. I  consulted the Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland and couldn't spot it.  It was definitely a member of the Tortricidiae and I went backwards and forwards eliminating them one by one.  I can see it now, now that I know what it is, but I hadn't interpreted the (excellent) illustration.  The coppery, golden-orange coloured section at the base of the wing when at rest is the diagnostic mark.  I understand this section of a micro-moth's wing is called the ocellus - 'an oval, metallic, shining mark.' 

The scientific name poses more questions.  Cydia is taken from 'kudos' - a tribute to the beauty of the moth; pomonella refers to Pomona, the goddess of fruit-trees, and in this instance the pear.  The larva lives in the fruit of pears.  We have apple trees at Shandy Hall but no pear.  We have pears in the fruit bowl in the kitchen which were being munched yesterday when friends called for lunch.  Is the moth from the garden (via the window) or from the market (via the fruit)?

It's species number 363 so it's all fine by me.

Mottled Pug (Eupethicea exiguata)

This was the only moth that remained unidentified last night.  The Shoulder-striped Wainscot was remembered after a little while but pugs are pugs...  However, the markings were clearer than usual on this one and the Mottled Pug was confirmed by Dave Chesmore this afternoon.
Our next moth evening is on Friday 3 July - for the National Gardens Scheme.

1 July 2019 - National Garden Scheme Moths

(Pseudargyrotoza cowagana)

Not a name to forget.  Certainly a very long name for a very small moth.  What secrets can be unlocked by finding the derivation of the scientific name? 'Pseudos' is the Greek for 'a falsehood' and the 'argurotoxos' refers to Apollo - the bearer of the silver bow.  He also had a golden bow with which he overcame the serpent Pthon.  If this moth is observed with a raking light, tiny silver scales can be seen on the forewings.  This moth had not been photographed before but was recorded by Dave Chesmore (moth expert and enthusiast) on one of his first visits to Shandy Hall - before this blog-posting ritual was born.  There were four of these little moths all showing the distinctive circular splodge of yellow on their backs.

'Conwagana' is a tip-of-the-hat to Conway, an 18th century entomologist who was a good friend to Fabricius, the most distinguished student of Linnaeus. Quite a lot of myth and scholarship for one moth to carry.

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)

I was pleased to quickly identify a moth I had seen only once before - the Codling Moth.

A full description of its identity can be seen here.  The little dots of tarnished gold make its identity certain.

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)

The number of moths caught in the moth trap on the night of 28 June was a little more promising than the previous five weeks or so.  Many of the traps set earlier in the year have been empty - completely empty - and this is cause for concern.  Just over 50 people turned up to visit the gardens in the early evening (the best time) and there was a sufficient variety of moth species to provide interest.  

The Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) arrived in plenty displaying a smattering of spots on its fawny wings and also the characteristic 'kink' in the third band on the edge of the wing.  It is a very common and very delicate moth that just needs a quick observation and then released before it damages itself against the perspex.

Mount Ida pertains to where the Greek gods and godesses observed the Trojan Wars and the 'aversata' part of the scientific name comes from 'aversus' - belonging to the under part. Linnaeus wrote 'punctum in pagina inferiore magis saturatum' - the spot more deeply coloured on the underside of the 'page', the 'page' meaning the surface of the wing.  A very bookish moth.

Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)

The Small Angle Shades always looks as if it has just come back from a good scrub and polish and then has been neatly folded. Its scientific name refers to the plaiting and weaving that the moth's resting position displays (can you see the 'fold' in the photograph?) and the second part (lucipara) refers to the 'light brought forth' as a golden mark beneath the black/purple colouring.

The larva feeds on foxglove, nettle, ferns and sallows in particular.

This week will bring a trap on Thursday and (hopefully) a sufficient number of moths to show to primary school children ...