Sunday 18 May 2014

Multitude of micros

Things have looked up in the last few days, and the activity around the trap as I type is looking promising for tomorrow morning. Numbers have remained lowish until recently, and even last night's 40-plus did include 26 Epiphyas postvittanas - however, some nice NFY and even lifers have been showing up: the latter including a Buttoned Snout and the former Cinnabar, Treble Lines, Heart and Dart, Evergestis forficalis and Tinea trinotella.

Evergestis forficalis, 13/5/14

Heart and Dart, 15/5/14

Tinea trinotella, 16/5/14

We've also come up with a few uncertainties, and wondered whether anyone could help with confirmation or suggestions: first of all, a couple of pugs, I'm afraid, which seem to me to be a Mottled Pug and possibly (but mainly judging by its noticeably smaller size) a Dwarf Pug:

Possible Dwarf Pug, 15.5.14

Possible Mottled Pug, 14/5/14

And then, quite a few micros, some of which we've guessed at, but several of which seem entirely mysterious: one which we think is Elachista argentella, one Esperia sulphurella, a couple of presumed Phyllonorycters and two which have stumped us entirely - all help gratefully received. Steve and Xander Goddard.

Presumed Elachista argentella, 16/5/14

Presumed Esperia sulphurella, 14/5/14

Presumed Phyllonorycter, 16/5/14

Another presumed Phyllonorycter, 16/5/14

Unknown micro, 16/5/14

Unknown micro 2, 16/5/14

4 comments:

  1. I agree with Esperia sulphurella. I think the steep resting posture of your two presumed Phyllonorycter would make them Caloptilia sp. I also caught my first last night but can't ID any further as T&W only cover 26 of 95 species. The micro one from last is another I caught recently and I believe to be Mompha subbistrigella.

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  2. Yes to Mottled Pug. Yes to Elachista argentella. Your Phyllonorycter is Caloptilia syringella. Below that it looks like Mompha subbistrigella and below that a bit Bactra-like.

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  3. Dwarf Pug is a misleading name as it is isn't especially small. The possible Dwarf Pug is not Dwarf Pug but I wouldn't want to stick my neck out and identify to species from the photo - Brindled or Oak-tree would be my guess, its pretty worn and they're still hanging about, especially Oak-tree and given you say it is small suggests that too (look at picture 2 on UK Moths for Oak-tree Pug). BW, Marc

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