Mother Shipton moth (1 Viewer)

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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• Jun 12, 2018

• #1

My sister helps to organise some walks in the Marlborough area and today, they're doing a "fauna and flora" walk at the Wilts Wildlife Trust reserve near Devizes.

She went there on Sunday to check what plants and butterflies etc were about and found a Mother Shipton moth.

I've never even heard of these before. She said it's quite unusual.

Just thought you lot in here might be interested.

 

B

Britseye

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2018

• #2

Was very pleased to come across my first in Estonia recently. Unlike yourself, I had heard of them previously, but nevertheless it still took several days for the penny to drop as I was racking my brains to try to work out what kind of butterfly it was! Mother Shipton's are day-fliers.

 

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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• Jun 16, 2018

• #3

Thanks Britseye.

I'm not sure if she did the ID on her own, or if she got help. She's not a butterfly/moth specialist but more a wildlife generalist, with plants being her main interest. She'd certainly know which ones she'd not seen before though.

 

B

Britseye

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2018

• #4

There was supposed to be a photo attached but I got it wrong.

 

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delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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• Jun 16, 2018

• #5

.... well I sure think my sister got the ID right then. The picture she sent me shows one with a closed wing, but I guess, what I call, the finger to thumb marking, is diagnostic?

That's a great picture you've taken Britseye

 

Corvus cornix

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2018

• #6

The moth is named after "Old Mother Shipton" a C16th Yorkshire witch. The pattern on the upper wing is meant to resemble her face.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/1034-1435/mother-shipton.html

I've never seen one myself, but I keep trying. One of the easier moths to spot and ID.

Cheers,

Matt

 

R

rosaria

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2018

• #7

Brilliant picture. I've only ever seen one here once and that was a good few years ago.
Rose