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What Is This?

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:43 pm
by Paul Harfield
I disturbed this today in the garden. I thought it was a moth, albeit quite an unusual one, but now I am not so sure :? It was about 30mm long, not including antennae. It flew in a moth like way and then settled at which point it was scurrying around in a fairly unmothlike way. It seemed to be trying very hard to get out of the light. I managed to get a couple of poor pictures. Can anybody confirm what it is :?:
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Re: What Is This?

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:09 pm
by millerd
Looks a bit like a lacewing or something of that sort?

Just a guess...

Dave

Re: What Is This?

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:33 pm
by jasonbirder
I'm guessing some kind of Caddisfly but can't be more specific...

Re: What Is This?

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:44 pm
by ScottD
I would also vote for a Caddis of some description.

Re: What Is This?

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:03 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Yep, it's definitely an adult caddis - possibly one of the limnephilids? These are the creatures whose larvae make themselves little living tubes out of stones and small pieces of stick and live on the bottom of rivers and lakes. They do look very moth-like as adults, but their wings are covered in tiny hairs rather than the scales of a moth/butterfly.

Trev

Re: What Is This?

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:42 pm
by Paul Harfield
Thanks guys for the identification :D I am familiar with the larval stage but can not ever recall having seen the adult Caddis Fly before

Re: What Is This?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:54 am
by JohnR
Going by the third photo I would hazard a guess at Micropterna lateralis but my knowledge is limited to the odd one that turns up in a light trap.