www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hiya, I was wondering whether any of you clever people would be able to ID this moth. Apologies for the poor quality pic. It was taken May 2003 in north London. I had originally labelled it as a Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis but now looking at it I'm not so sure but can't find anything in my books to match it. Many thanks in advance

Buggy

Morning Bugboy

It is a Straw Dot, (Rivula sericealis)

Thanks

Andy

Thanks Andy, good choice in avatar btw

Dear Buggy,

I wondered if you could assist me with my own unidentified moth? I found it next to a petrol pump residing on the fire sand sack!
Any help by you or others is much appreciated!

Flutter on!

CJB

Hi CJB,

It's an Oak Beauty, Biston strataria. An attractive species.

More at http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2639

Kind regards. Mark

You beat me to it Mark, yes a proper little stunner, never seen one myself.

Thanks Mark and Buggy for the ID.

A new one for me too! I am hoping to set up a moth trap this summer to see what else is around where I live, so will no doubt have loads more for you to id!

Still yet to see my first 2015 butterfly, which has surprised me as I have been cycling around a lot and thought the temperature and sunlight would have been conducive, but no luck so far!

Flutter on!

CJB

Hi CJB,

If you set up a moth trap, do send your records in to your County Recorder. I'm sure you'll be astonished by what turns up. I have a small urban garden, half a mile from the centre of Stafford. In three seasons, I recorded 323 macro species including 30 odd new to my 10 km square and the 3rd and 4th county record for Annulet . You will find that every morning is like Christmas .

Tony M.

If you're planning on moth trapping it might be worth investing in some ID guides, I use these two:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Guide-Mot ... ords=moths

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Guide-Mic ... ords=moths

I was looking in the wrong one when trying to ID my original post, I was convinced it was a micro !

HI Tony and BugBoy,

I will definitely record the findings although I suspect I will be pleading for id's every time time, so get your typing fingers ready! Buggy, your suggestions of id guides are much appreciated!

I am in the heart of Gloucs and am hoping for some great specimens to turn up, however, if you can give me some pointers on a cost effective way to make a trap, let me know.

Flutter on!

CJB

Hi CJB,

The 'For sale and wanted' forum seems to have vanished . I no longer use my Paul Batty trap and would be prepared to sell it for £50. It's not pretty, but very functional and has a rain cover, waterproof choke and spare lamp. It would have to be collected from Stafford. PM me if you are interested.
IMHO the best moth book is : Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland by Waring and Townsend (macros only). ISBN no.0 9531399 2 1 (paperback).

Good luck,

Tony M.

Hi Tony,

I have no idea what a Paul Batty trap is (!), but sadly Stafford is rather a lot of petrol which would wipe out any savings!!

I will have a look for the book you recommend and once again thank you for your response.

Flutter on!

CJB

A couple more moths for ID if anyone has a couple of minutes spare . both taken today on chalk downland in the Chilterns and same one from another angle I'm having a stab and saying its a rather worn Wainscot of some sort

No idea about this one though, very small but not sure if it's a 'macro' or 'micro'. About the size of a Pyrausta Thank you

Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria

ChrisC wrote:Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria

Thank you, wouldn't have had it down as a Noctuid!

wait til you get to see a waved black...... looks like a geometrid.

ChrisC wrote:wait til you get to see a waved black...... looks like a geometrid.

Levant Blackneck and Pinion-streaked Snout look like Pyralids/Crambids, This is why I try and stick with Butterflies