[Andrew S]

Has anyone any idea what the attached moth is? At least I assume it is a moth...

It came to my light trap in Wandsworth on 28 September. Forewing length about 15mm.

I have looked through the Waring/Townsend book without finding anything like it (although I am quite prepared for someone to point out that it is there!).

So possibly it's a micro, but I would have thought something that size (and with its unusual translucent wings) would have been mentioned in the few things I've looked at on micros (including the Collins guide to insects (Chinery)).

Andrew

[Surreybirder]

From the shape I'd say it was one of the pug/carpet tribe.
CJW is usually my guru on these insects.
The nearest I can find is white-spotted carpet (which Waring suggests sometimes lacks the white spot) but there's no mention of it being transparent.
What kind of trap were you using? I'd be interested to know as I'm hoping to rig something up myself in due course.

Welcome to Birdforum ("Mothforum"?) by the way--it looks as if we are not a million miles apart.
Ken

[ColinD]

Andrew,
I looks like a pyralid of some description to me. When you say forewing length is 15mm, is that the length of one wing, or from wing tip to wing tip.

If wing tip to wing tip is about 30mm, then could it be a very worn Mother of Pearl? It looks the right shape, and the wear may be what is producing the translucent effect (you can see the wood behind it).

Mother of Pearl is usually over in my garden by August, but some do go into September, and it has been an unusually late season for many species.

Colin

[Andrew S]

Ken

Thanks for the welcome. Whilst I am a birder, since getting the trap I have become very keen on moths - would thoroughly recommend one, although things are getting a little quieter as autumn draws on (but I did get my first Red-green Carpet last night). The variety of moths in my small urban garden since the beginning of September has impressed me. My trap is a Skinner trap, purchased at this year's birdfair for about £90 all in (including egg boxes!) from, I think, Biota, who also sell over the internet.

Colin

15mm is length of one wing.

I considered Mother of Pearl, but to me the end of the leading edge of the forewing appeared to bend back too much towards the tip. Also no trace of pattern, other than the orange-brown leading edge of the wing, which was more noticeable than in the photo, and the dots on the outer edge. To me it didn't appear to be worn, but I am new to this game...

Andrew

[Richard H]

Hmm, certainly an interesting case Andrew. Unfortunately my guide offers no help either (Peterson). Although I cannot suggest what it is, I must agree with you that it is NOT Mother of Pearl. Like you rightly point out the leading edge of the forewing bends back far too severly.

Good to have you with us and keep up the interesting posts.... preferably identify your spots though or you will drive us all potty! Nothing more frustrating than a UFM!!
Richard.

[Andrew S]

Richard H

Blackburn I see - I have a nephew who lives there - do you know him? Miserable little runt - hideously deformed - goes by the name of Wretched H.

Poor mother as he uses an American guide.

[Surreybirder]

Originally posted by Richard H
Hmm, certainly an interesting case Andrew. Unfortunately my guide offers no help either (Peterson). Although I cannot suggest what it is, I must agree with you that it is NOT Mother of Pearl. Like you rightly point out the leading edge of the forewing bends back far too severly.

Good to have you with us and keep up the interesting posts.... preferably identify your spots though or you will drive us all potty! Nothing more frustrating than a UFM!!
Richard.

Another new member!? Although the 'with us' sounds as if you've been around for a while?

Are you trying to tell us that Andrew is your Uncle?? Please could you translate into English "UFM" and "identify your spots"? I'm even newer to moths than Andrew.
Confused of Lingfield.

[ColinD]

Got it! It is a pyralid, unfortunately one without an English name. I think its Palpita vitrealis. Check it out at UK moths, at

http://www.ukmoths.force9.co.uk/

Go to systematic list and search for Palpita vitrealis. The description is spot on, and one of the photos shows it in the exact same resting position.

Here is the write up from uk moths:

"Palpita vitrealis

Wingspan 27 -31 mm.

Although widespread in southern Europe, this is an immigrant to the British Isles, appearing most often in the south and south-west of England.

Autumn is the most likely period to encounter this species.

The wings are translucent with a slight sheen and an orange or brown leading edge.

Abroad, the species feeds on jasmine (Jasminium) and olive (Olea)."

[Andrew S]

Thanks Colin!

Rather disappointed it didn't say "scarce migrant"...

Andrew

[Richard H]

Colin, well done

"Another new member!? Although the 'with us' sounds as if you've been around for a while?

Are you trying to tell us that Andrew is your Uncle?? Please could you translate into English "UFM" and "identify your spots"? I'm even newer to moths than Andrew.
Confused of Lingfield."

Confused of Lingfield,

I am a new member to BirdForum but i said 'with us' on behalf of the wider moth community. Been a keen mother for sometime.

No I wasn't trying to tell you Andrew S is my uncle (but incidentally he is). UFM= unidentifed flying moth, although our Palpita Vitrealis wasn't striktly flying. Not too sure "identify your spots" would be massively different in English. Hope this assuages your confusion to some extent.

Andrew,
"Poor mother as he uses an American guide." Was using Peterson (after exhausting my national guides) incase your moth was one of the rare State Side immigrants.

Richard :)

[Surreybirder]

Thanks for the clarification, Richard.
As there are so experienced mothers on this thread, I was wondering whether any of you know anything about building a moth trap. Is there a site somewhere on the web with instructions? I cannot afford the cost of a commercial one at the moment.
Thanks,
Ken

[Richard H]

SurryBirder,
Nice to encounter such bourgeoning moth passion, especially from a 'birder'.

Although not perhaps the clearest of images my good friend Paul Palmer has collated several designs for traps and kindly published them at

http://www.itb.u-net.com/leps/moth.htm

Even if you don't use these plans I hope thay may at least give you some inspiration.

Richard.

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Richard.
I've downloaded the images and I'll try and make sense of them!
Ken

[Cuckoo-shrike]

Palpita vitrealis isn't included in Goater's "British Pyralid Moths". As this book contains all the Pyralids on the British list when it was published in 1986, it clearly is quite a scarce migrant Andrew.

[CJW]

Hi Aquila, it's original name was Palpita Unionalis (which IS in Goater!). Co-incidentally, I caught one down your neck of the woods last week.
The species is a fairly regular immigrant to the British Isles. When I say regular, I mean that it occurrs annually in small numbers, but there are often irruptions.

Those of you interested in setting up a moth trap might want to have a look at this site. I believe their prices are quite competitive.

http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/index.html