Monday 27 June 2016

Mullein or Striped Lychnis?

Caught in my moth trap Saturday night this week.

Thanks

Peter

6 comments:

  1. It would be very late for a Mullein and I think it looks more like a Striped Lychnis. However, without knowing how true to life the colours are in the picture and without seeing the hindwing topside & underside I'm not certain. If it is from a known Striped Lychnis area that would also suggest it is that species.

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  2. Any idea of size? Would like to see the underside of the hindwing. Right time for Striped Lychnis and as Martin says, rather late for Mullein (even my Mullein larvae have all pupated now) but quite a rarity at light.

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  3. Dave, Martin, Peter
    Thanks for your replies.
    We live at Wooburn Common, about 2 miles south of the Holtspur reserve and I have Dark Mullein plants in the garden, which have been trashed by 30 - 40 Mullein moth caterpillars. This is my first year moth trapping; I take photos of everything and try and sort out the names afterwards.
    Peter

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  4. Well, you are certainly in the right area and it seems very much more likely time-wise that this is Striped Lychnis rather than Mullein. However, as has already been said, it is very difficult to be absolutely sure just from that one photo. If it is Striped Lychnis then congratulations are in order - the moth rarely appears at light traps!

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  5. Thanks Dave.
    Will just have to record it as a possible!
    Peter

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