Phiaris sp? (Cumbria) (1 Viewer)

[gillean55]

Hello

Moths 1 - 4 were all found yesterday in an area of rough grassland (very damp in winter) at Orton Moss near Carlisle. Moth 5 was found 3 days ago in a small woodland clearing, boggy in places (even now), near Brampton.

Moths 1 and 3 were measured (from photos taken with a calibrated lens) at just under 10mm in length, from palp-tip to wingtip, and moths 4 and 5 at about 8.5mm in length.

From the size and general colouring I was thinking that the first three might perhaps be Phiaris micana and the last two P. palustrana. However, I'm not sure that the markings are right in either case.

Any comments appreciated!

Paul

 

[gillean55]

Just to draw a line under this one, the P. palustrana records (Photos 4 and 5) were accepted by the County Moth Recorder, but there was some doubt about the Phiaris micanas (Photos 1 - 3), which were rejected.