20 June 2017 - Beauty Spots

(Phycitodes binaevella)

Another new moth is Phycitodes binaevella. We decided to take a photograph of the moth in the trap rather than contain it in a tube. The picture shows the moth in profile. In the guide book for micro moths, some species are shown in profile and some show the species from above. This proved to be awkward as I first tried filtering out the moths which had different resting positions and head shapes. This procedure did not work as planned as the two features do not look the same when viewed top down.

Imagining what the moth might look like from above, I first thought it was an Athrips mouffetella as the dot placements are similar. I scrolled through all the pictures once more, this time making note of the coloration and how its bottom half was grey and its top was a light brown. I found a couple which looked vaguely similar : Phycitodes binaevella and Phycitodes maritima.  Both were on the Yorkshire Moths Flying Tonight list and the pictures on the website matched. While the pictures and the moth were similar, I was still uncertain as this species appeared not to have  been recorded in our vice-county. I quickly emailed the photograph and my deductions to Charlie Fletcher and he confirmed that it was indeed a Phycitodes binaevella and there had been a couple of sightings recently. This increases our count to 411! I honestly did not expect the number of species to increase this much since the number was already so high.

Phycitodes refers to how this group of moths is similar to the Phycitae where the derivation comes from a red colour that is found in seaweed (phukos) or a precious stone phykitis.  I couldn't see any red though....;  binaevella means ‘two moles’ which describe the black dots on its forewing. 
The moth looks particularly elegant as it holds its head high showing off its beauty spots.

The larvae of Phycitodes binaevella feed on the flower-heads of the spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) - the national flower of Scotland which is considered a weed in the UK and does well in grazed areas as the plant is unpalatable for most animals. 


Post : Walter Chen [UPenn intern]

27 June 2016 - Difficult Identification

(Phycitodes maritima)

This moth was captured on 25 June. It has greyish silver wings, ‘seeded’ at one-half and two-thirds down, and palps that curve around clayish black eyes. I believed that I had identified it as a Phycitodes maritima, but because of the poor condition of the insect I could not get a solid confirmation from Charlie Fletcher, who nonetheless said that maritima is more than likely to be correct. Whether it counts as our 378th species or not, it is definitely worth an honorary mention as no member of the Phycitodes genus has been recorded at Shandy Hall before.

Phycitodes maritima (top view)

Created in 1917, the genus Phycitodes is a fairly new one. ‘Eidos’ or the prefix ‘od-‘ means form or shape, so Phycitodes means a genus resembling Phycita. The latter’s name is taken from ‘phukos’, a sea-weed from which a red dye was prepared, or ‘phykītis’, a precious stone showing the same color. This can be confusing as the our species is by no means red and can only be said to resemble the other in the shape of its labial palpa, the way its wings are folded, and the presence of black dots. When looking up the illustration for it, I found that the genus Phycita used to be a lot bigger and encompassed species which are now considered very much akin to ours, such as Homoeosoma nebulella and Phycitodes binaevella. So, here is a plate of all the Phycita’s! And you can try to guess which one is our maritima.

Other moths in the trap were also difficult to identify and it took some serious squinting to make out a P. perlucidalis, a S. ambigualis, and a Small Square-spot. Buff Arches and Riband Wave were also nice finds as they were new to me.

On Friday evening (1 July) the gardens at Shandy Hall are open for the National Garden Scheme. We will set the trap on Thursday night and hope that there will be something for visitors to see before the moths are released.  All are welcome.

Post : Tung Chau (UPenn)

2 July 2021 - The Prettiest Moth

 

Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)

This is possibly the prettiest moth I have seen in a long time and only the second to be seen at Shandy Hall.  One of the UPenn students recorded it in the moth trap a few years ago, but it wasn't quite as fresh as this one which was newly minted.  The Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) is similar to the Magpie moth in that the markings on the wings are not consistent; the clouds and the border appear in a variety of shapes.

The scientific name derives from the Greek for a 'hem or fringe' (loma); spilos meaning a spot or a stain. Marginis gives us a margin along the edges of both wings.  The moth rests with its wings spread, as in the photograph. It is common throughout the UK and the caterpillar feeds on aspen, poplars and willows.

 

Map-winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa)

 

Another moth that was recorded by the students (on one occasion only) but I had not seen before.  When I saw it this morning I couldn't work it out and was beginning to think it was a malformed Golden Y.  But then something in its slightly ponderous movements reminded me of the Ghost Moth (or Ghost Swift) and I then deduced it must be one from that family.  When producing eggs following mating, the female Map-winged Swift broadcasts them over vegetation while in flight; no selection of the appropriate food-plant with precision like many other insects.

 

(Chrysoteuchia culmella)

The Garden Grass Veneer is the common name for this species which can be found in abundance throughout the country.  With its jackdaw blue eye and clearly ingrained patterns on its forewings it is easy to identify.  The white line at the base of the wings glitters brightly and the scientific name can be translated as 'to make with gold'. The larvae feed at the base of grass stems and the moth is on the wing between May and September.

 

(Phycitodes binaevella)

Phycitodes binaevella is the name given to this moth - again only seen once before in the garden.  Out of focus in the background is a Lewington drawing of the species showing (rather murkily) the two (bi) moles (naevus) that can be seen on the forewings.  It was difficult to get a good photograph but I think this one is clear enough to make it a correct identification.

Other moths from last night included : Buff Arches, Poplar Hawk-moths (6), Barred Straw (4), Udea ovalis (10), Beautiful Hook Tip (2), Burnished Brass and the first Large Yellow Underwing.