Gold Spot (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

I got two of the above last night and one, had me thinking Lempka's. A couple of features sem to fit but I think, on balance, it's just a Gold spot.

The first two shots are a regular Gold spot, the second two are the one I was scrutinising.

Comments and tips on ID, very welcome.

 

[Paul Chapman]

The first is Gold Spot & the second is Lempke's Gold Spot. Following reasons:-
(1) largest and most prominent silvery marking near apex is shorter & blunter;
(2) more rounded inner median spot;
(3) median spots fused - rare in Gold Spot; &
(4) difference in some of the black lines near the apex.

Some useful drawings in Skinner which I will try and attach at some point.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

Andy

I want to come back to this one! Brain not working totally.

https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/023-plusia-putnami-lempkes-gold-spot.html

https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/022-plusia-festucae-gold-spot.html

All the best

 

[Andy Adcock]

Many thanks for this Paul,
Notts has no records since the 90's so just have to convince our recorder now!

Edit: After more reading, it having not, been dissected, I sincerely doubt that our recorder will accept this. I now wonder if the dearth of modern records in Notts, could simply be down to 'mothers', not submitting suspects for dissection?

I managed another shot which clearly shows the putative Lempka's to be smaller than the Gold Spot.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Update,
our recorder, having seen the images, has requested that I send it for dissection. She states that she herself has never seen one in Notts, despite dissecting a number of 'possibles'.

It does seem from what I've since read, that ID without dissection, is problematic to say the least, mainly because Gold Spot is so variable.

I'll update when I get the result.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Hadn't realised that I never replied to this - rejected, it was not a Lempka's.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Yes. Looking at this both are Gold Spot. The attached is a Lempke's Gold Spot from a recent Scottish trip.

All the best

Paul