Unidentified moth from Germany,

Discussion forum for getting a butterfly identified.
Post Reply
User avatar
CommonBlue
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 pm

Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by CommonBlue »

Hi all,

I was wondering if you could help me identify this moth, I found it last summer, on vacation in Northern Germany.

I've been looking through every butterfly/moth-ID book I've had available. Alas, no luck.. I'd really love to find out who this little fella is - I'm working on an album of all butterflies and moths I've found at my family's farm in Northern Germany.

Length is approx. 1-1.5cm. It has a peculiar proboscis (..?), looks almost like a second set of antennae when seen from from above... also looks as if it's missing a pair of legs (seems to have another pair under the wings). First and last time I saw this kind.
Found him while I was walking along an old road, on one side a meadow (with quite a few Queen of Spain Fritillaries) and the other side a forestry with some sort of pinetrees, though some old oaks along the road. Somewhat shadowy, but not particularly cool.. Must have been in July or August, in the afternoon/early evening. He flew onto my jacket, tried to move him as carefully as I could, but I wonder if that might have damaged his legs.. Didn't notice at the time. :|

Anyone got a clue what species this is? Or does anyone know what that odd proboscis is good for?

Image
(Unidentified Moth on Flickr for a larger image, a bit blurred, however... Not ideal settings, only had one hand free, hehe)
User avatar
Paul
Posts: 811
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:53 pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by Paul »

try the UKmoths site... can search all the micros from the UK on that site - may have a browse for you later :D


resembles, but isn't Catoptria permutatella, but Subfamily: Crambinae likely :?
JKT
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:36 pm
Location: Finland

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by JKT »

I don't think so. Those palps and the general outlook ... its something entirely different. I'll try to look...

Right. Oecophoridae: Harpella forficella - see one of the pictures in http://www.lepidoptera.pl/show.php?ID=2105&country=UK.
User avatar
CommonBlue
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 pm

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by CommonBlue »

JKT wrote:I don't think so. Those palps and the general outlook ... its something entirely different. I'll try to look...

Right. Oecophoridae: Harpella forficella - see one of the pictures in http://www.lepidoptera.pl/show.php?ID=2105&country=UK.
Cheers! That should be the one.
I'm impressed, gotta ask, how do you manage to find them?

Oh, while we're at it... I found another moth I haven't been able to identify, from the same area. Not the greatest image quality, borrowed a camera for this one.. Approx 2,5-3,5cm wingspan I think.

Care to help me out once more?

Image
via Flickr.
Last edited by CommonBlue on Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Paul
Posts: 811
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:53 pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by Paul »

:oops: :roll:
JKT
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:36 pm
Location: Finland

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by JKT »

That's too easy: Geometridae - Larentiinae - Lythria cruentaria. The fact that it is rather common here helps... :)

Experience helps - even if you don't know what it is, you at least have a good idea what it is not. Then it is just a matter of clicking the right links...

Are you familiar with http://www.lepiforum.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?
User avatar
Pete Eeles
Administrator & Stock Contributor
Administrator & Stock Contributor
Posts: 6777
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
Contact:

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by Pete Eeles »

JKT wrote:Are you familiar with http://www.lepiforum.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?
That's a really nice website. Thanks for sharing!

Cheers,

- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
User avatar
CommonBlue
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 pm

Re: Unidentified moth from Germany,

Post by CommonBlue »

Thanks, JKT :D
And thanks for the link as well, I wasn't familiar with that website.

Cheers,
Post Reply

Return to “Identification”