26 June 2016 - New 'Bird Dropping' Moth

Epiblema trimaculana

Though to me the scenery may not change much from day to day, the moth world is seeing a total revamp. The first of the summer for the Barred-fruit Tree Moth, Common Footman, Common Wave, Coxcomb Prominent, Large Yellow-underwing, Phlyctaenia perlucidalis, Straw Dot, and Uncertain have all made an appearance, while some previously abundant species – Small Square-spot, Diamond Back – have diminished in number. A total of 38 species were recorded, including one new: Epiblema trimaculana, identification confirmed by Charlie Fletcher.

E. trimaculana (from above)

This is the second Epiblema species I have seen, the other one being E. cynosbatella. Comepared to the latter, E. trimaculana has a narrower forewing, lacks the yellow palps, and, as suggested by its name, shows three (tri-) spots (macula) in the ocellar region of the forewing. Below is our moth illustrated under the name Spilonota trimaculana, showing the slipperiness of the naming system and the degree of similarities between the so-called ‘bird dropping’ moths. From now on, I shall get a nervous twitch in the stomach whenever I see a member of this family – not from the appetizing nickname but the difficulty of identification. It brings our species count to 377.

E. trimaculana (illustration)

The Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) is a rather Lego-looking piece of a gem. Wearing a conspicuous grey and yellow, this moth has a fashion sense that informs both its common and scientific name. I learn that it got the former from the long livery of the footman, which is echoed in the involuted forewings at rest. The same is implied by its scientific name, where ‘eilēma’ means ‘a veil’ and luridus pale yellow (from the costal streaks).

Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)

Post : Tung Chau (UPenn)

7 July 2016 - Painter's Palette

Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata)

Today’s trap looked like a painter’s palette. A stunning 38 species responded to the call of warm weather and perched, seemingly content, on the egg boxes in the trap. Once again, Ermines, Minors, Golden and Silver Y’s, Heart and Dart, and Silver-ground Carpet proved themselves to be regular visitors. Catching up in numbers are Barred Straw, Snout, Large Yellow-underwing, and Small Dotted Buff. Species that occurred only sporadically in the past month all decided to check back in today – Lychnis, Riband Wave, Common Footman, Rivulet, plus a good variety of micros: Epiblema trimaculana, Eucosma cana, Udea Olivalis, Celypha laculana, Garden Pebble, Garden Grass Veneer, and Plum Tortrix. 

In the spirit of our upcoming exhibition in which artists are asked to represent their version of ideal beauty, this blog will focus on the painterly moths. Named after the agricultural goddess Ceres, the flashy Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata) resembles a cartoony foxtail with its rich orange hue and brushy white apex. Unmistakable as a masterpiece, this moth is a delight to identify. It passes the winter as an egg on the foodplant (a wide range of roses) and hatches May-June into a jade-colored caterpillar.

Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)

On second thought, who needs color to impress? This is the statement made by the Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata), which resembles an atonal black and white Robert Motherwell painting. The “clouds” refer to the thick, meandering dark border which comes in, as its scientific name suggests, hems (loma) and spots (spilos). Jane Wu (earlier UPenn intern) compared the pattern to a Rorschach inkblot test, which I thought was brilliant because in this test, as in cloud-watching, we see what our mind wants us to see.


Post: Tung Chau (UPenn)

15 June 2018 - Flames like Twigs

The Flame (Axylia putris)

It’s now been over a week since I arrived at Shandy Hall and just when I thought was getting a handle on things, a few new moths arrived that threw me off my game. There were a few mystery moths and a particularly enigmatic bird dropping micro, however none are new to the garden –but that doesn’t mean they don’t have new insights or information to offer the blog!

The Flame (Axylia putris) is an impressive piece of work; it looks almost exactly like a broken piece of twig. Axylia means 'cut wood' and putris means 'rotten', referring to the marking on the forewings and their resemblance to frayed, decaying timber.  It can be found in British Moths and their Transformations by Humphrey's and Westwood under the name Xylina putris. The genus Xylina is no longer, but it translates as 'from the woods' - an apt name considering woodland is its main habitat although it can be found in hedgerows and suburban habitats.

The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)

The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) is another interesting looking moth. Its name, unsurprisingly, mocks its rather long and unusual nose. This moth eats a healthy diet that consists entirely of nettle, and can be found virtually anywhere the plant grows. 

The Snout (illustration)

Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis)

The Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis) is a common moth, but one with so many different colors and slight variations that it can be difficult to identify.  On this prime individual, we can clearly see why it is called a Marbled Minor with its swooping black, white and grey markings.

(Celypha lacunana)

Celypha lacunana is one of the three 'bird-dropping' micro moths we found in the last moth trap.  Its name has changed entirely since the publishing of British Moths and their Transformations by Humphrey's and Westwood, in which it is identified as Oporinia tortricella.  As for the other micro moths. I was able to identify an Epiblema trimaculana with the help of Charlie Fletcher

Among the usual suspects were Buff Ermines, White Ermines, Silver-ground Carpets, Common Pugs (I think) and Plum Tortrices. No Poplar Hawk-moths and I have to say –I missed those gentle giants! Nothing too flashy in the trap this time, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next catch!


Post by: Gabriella Morace [UPenn intern]