At last! The weather has finally turned, the wind has dropped and the temperature has become more stable during the nights. So tonight (11th Feb) will be the 4th trapping session in as many days.
Pale Brindled Beauty
These 2 were the only catch on 9th February.
The 10th was slightly warmer with less wind, so as a consequence did fairly well. The micros caught were the first to come to light this year.
Satellite
Dark Chestnut
This is the 2nd record this year, I was hoping it was a Chestnut. The 'sharp corners' give it away though.
Agonopterix heracliana (688)
The 1st of many, I would presume.
Tortricodes alternella (1025)
Although common, this usually woodland species is a garden 1st- touché Trent!
This was the best night of the year so far- which wouldn't be hard!, 19 moths of 8 species so far this year..........
Matt that is surely a Chestnut for me.
ReplyDeleteThat T. alternella looks like one of mine. I heard next doors dog barking late last night....have you been raiding my traps ?
ReplyDeleteHi Ben,
ReplyDeleteI've brightened the image a fair bit and it is on the lighter side. But look at the straight, 'cut off' wings and very sharp corners. Also the 4 white 'ticks' along the leading edge......I compared it to other Chestnut photos and thought it was a dark, anyone else care to comment?
All the best,
Hi matt it looks like Chestnut to me too. At this time of year the worn edges can make id tricky. It looks to pale for Dark Chestnut, but I stand to be corrected...
ReplyDeleteStewart- I thnk I could have given a false impression as I've lightened the photo a fair bit- I really do think it's a 'light' Dark. I've circulated the image to VC30 Moths to give another opinon too.........I've got photos of Chestnut in 'labels' and it looks the wrong shape to me- of course, there's every possiblity I'm talking out of my A***!
ReplyDeleteHi Matt & Stewart. You have to remember that the defining feature of Chestnut vs Dark Chestnut is the wing shape. Look at the apex of the wing where the costa (leading edge) meets the termen (end of the wing). In Dark Chestnut the corners are very sharp which makes it looks like the wings have been snipped with a pair or scissors. In Chestnut the apex is more rounded. The "snipped" impression is given by the fact that the apex of the wing is slightly falcate (hooked) in Dark Chestnut. The colour CAN be a clue as Dark Chestnut tends to be darker with as Matt says the "tick marks" along the costa showing well but its the wing shape that clinches it. Generally if you are trying too hard to see the wing shape of Dark Chestnut then it is a Chestnut - Matt's example here is a classic Dark Chestnut shape.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the concise overview Andy.......
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy I'll note that for future ref. I'm sure that up here many Darks are overlooked....
ReplyDelete