Moth ID help, Devon, UK (1 Viewer)

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thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #1

Hi,

Here are a few moths I'm struggling to ID, I'm especially finding Thorns (e.g. Lunar, Purple, Early) difficult, so if anyone can give me any tips, that would be great. The guide mentions resting posture a lot, but unfortunately in most of my photos the posture isn't clear.

My hesitant ID's -

1) Early Thorn
2) Purple Thorn
3) Purple Thorn
4) Dingy Footman & ????
5) ???

Any help would be appreciated,

Tom

 

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T

thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #2

A few more

6) Is this a Scarce Dagger possibly, or just another Knot Grass?
7) Satyr Pug? Lead-coloured Pug?
8) Mottled Pug
9) ?
10) Is this a micromoth or caddisfly? Also is there an easy way to distinguish between them in the field fairly quickly?

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 11, 2018

• #3

Knot Grass is a Poplar Grey.

I think all Thorns are Early, Purple rests with wings open.

 

tperry

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #4

9. Codling Moth maybe.
10. Is a Caddis, they have hairs not scales and forward pointing antennae on a “pinhead”
the larger caddis “wiggle” when they walk.

 

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thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #5

Thanks for the help

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #6

Both pugs are Double-striped.

David

 

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thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 12, 2018

• #7

I would never have put them as the same species, thanks David. Is the resting position a big give away?

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #8

thomasclark1985 said:

I would never have put them as the same species, thanks David. Is the resting position a big give away?

Click to expand...

The pointy wing shape is diagnostic.

David

 

Paul Chapman

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #9

It does not appear to be the case that you have had answers to post 1 images 4 & 5.

Image 4 - Dingy Footman with Small Fan-footed Wave
Image 5 - July Highflyer

All the best

 

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thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #10

Thanks for that Paul, much appreciated.

Tom

 

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thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2018

• #11

Do people mind having a second look at number 6 please? I’ve had an experienced moth’er tell me it’s a Knot Grass, and now I don’t know what to think!?

Cheers,

Tom

 

Paul Chapman

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2018

• #12

2,500 species on the British List. Lots of them similar. Some variable. Some change with wear. You get used to looking for different clues to identification. He/she has probably not looked closely but just seen the white comma about three quarters of the way down the trailing edge of the forewing and said Knot Grass.

If he/she had then paused, looked at the large pale area in the subterminal area of the forewing and the way the orbicular stigma is very well marked and isolated, I believe he/she would have identified it as Poplar Grey.

For me, it is a Poplar Grey but I learn things every day:-

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/subacronicta-megacephala/adult-2/

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/acronicta-rumicis/

All the best

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 17, 2018

• #13

I stick with my original ID, this is a Poplar Grey.

 

T

thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2018

• #14

Paul Chapman said:

2,500 species on the British List. Lots of them similar. Some variable. Some change with wear. You get used to looking for different clues to identification. He/she has probably not looked closely but just seen the white comma about three quarters of the way down the trailing edge of the forewing and said Knot Grass.

If he/she had then paused, looked at the large pale area in the subterminal area of the forewing and the way the orbicular stigma is very well marked and isolated, I believe he/she would have identified it as Poplar Grey.

For me, it is a Poplar Grey but I learn things every day:-

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/subacronicta-megacephala/adult-2/

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/acronicta-rumicis/

All the best

Click to expand...

Thanks Paul I appreciate your help. The person who ID'd it as Knot Grass did by saying they are different shapes, plus it only has 1 pale patch on the distal part of the wing. From now on I will try to get the hindwing to clinch ID, when its not obvious, to avoid this in the future.

I have also attached another photo of the same moth, as the more I look, it looks more like Knot Grass to me, and my untrained eye! The orbicular stigma looks more like the Knot Grass from photos I've seen online also. But then like you say, they are variable.

http://www.bettonyb.co.uk/coronets.html

Many thanks,

Tom

 

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Last edited: Aug 17, 2018

T

thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2018

• #15

andyadcock said:

I stick with my original ID, this is a Poplar Grey.

Click to expand...

Ok, thanks again Andy.

Cheers

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 17, 2018

• #16

thomasclark1985 said:

Ok, thanks again Andy.

Cheers

Click to expand...

I've looked again more closely, it is a confusing moth

A couple of small details are as illustrated for KG in Waring but I have seen one with such a big or ragged, pale patch at the wing base.

 

Last edited: Aug 17, 2018