3 September 2012

2 September 2012 – Double-striped Tabby

Double-striped Tabby (Orthopygia glaucinalis)

Crouching at the very bottom of the trap was a moth that hadn’t been seen in the garden before.  The photograph shows the diagnostic feature – a double stripe across the forewing – but it was difficult to identify as the example in the field guide is much darker, almost chocolate-coloured.  However it was found and named as Hypsopygia glaucinalis.  The photographs on UK moths are a great help to identification but there was no trace of Hypospygia – this moth appears as Orthopygia glaucinalis.  One Latin name (Hypso) refers to the moth’s abdomen being flexed upward when at rest – like the Phoenix or the Scorched Wing – and the other (Ortho) to acknowledge the straightness of the abdomen when at rest.  So which is it to be?  The name Double-striped Tabby was found on moth websites in Lincolnshire and Norfolk – the ‘tabby’ making reference to the brindled ground colour of the wings.  Kitten moths and tabbys – the cat theme continues. And species 236 is welcomed.