Pugs..............

Battered Pugs at this time of year are the hardest to identify. In fact, after a certain amount of wear this becomes pretty much impossible. The most common in the garden at the moment are Green, Grey and of course Common Pug. Though most of the pugs are on the wing in June/July. Below are a couple that have/are testing me.

Oak-tree Pug?

Caught 27th June. It's been ages since I've caught one (11th May), but this seems to be what it is? Size, shape and distinctive white area to the outside of the discals all seem to fit. If it is an Oak-tree, it certainly is late. My latest previously record was 24th May 2010.................

Dwarf Pug

Caught 26th June. This could be a new species for the garden. 18mm wingspan, posture and very large discals give it all the hallmarks of a Dwarf Pug. I could easily be wrong of course as its so badly worn- retained for gen. det. So will find out soon enough....... confirmed by gen det. A. Banthorpe

Home Wood Survey continued.....26/04

Some more of the moths caught..........

Common Wave

1 caught loc.#2- NFS (new for site)

 Cream Wave

2 Caught at Loc.#2- NFS and a lifer! ID A. Banthorpe, VC30 Moths.

 Maiden's Blush

2 caught Loc.#3&4- NFS

 Dwarf Pug

8 caught- Loc.#2&3 NFS

 Mottled Pug

1 caught- Loc.#3 NFS

 Orange Footman

3 caught- Loc.2&3 NFS

The Pug Parade..........

Now everybody loves Pug identification like a hole in the head. So I've decided to get them all out of the way together. Some have been confirmed by VC30, others not. So I've stuck my neck out and had a try............just hope a few are actually right!

White-spotted Pug

This was seen in my garden on 14th May and is by far the largest I've had with a wingspan of 27mm and very large white wing spots, a light tipped abdomen and a large white patch in the middle of the thorax.

Dwarf Pug

A few of these were caught in Chicksands Wood on 15th May. Despite the name they aren't that small! Note the heavy markings and angle at which the wings are held.

Ochreous Pug

Another species caught in Chicksands Wood, it's a pine feeder.

Mottled Pug

I've had 2 of these in the garden, of which this is by far the best photo. In the books it describes the black area as being 'broken up'. It also has a defused black line running across the base of the abdomen.

Common Pug

Now my commonest pug species, the very obvious line around the trailing edges of the wings seems to be a good field mark.

Double-striped Pug

Earliest to be on the wing and fairly obvious once you've squinted hard enough to see 'em.........

Let's hope my theories are water tight!