3 October 2012

1 October 2012 – Poor Jenny Wren

Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae ab capucina)

The Green-brindled Crescent has flown this way before but only in its ‘typical’ form, with metallic shards of green decorating the fore-wing.  This plainer, browner version (ab capucina) takes its name from the Latin ‘cappa’ meaning a cap.  The French word ‘capuce’ – a pointed hood or cowl gave the name of Capuchin to the monks of the Franciscan order.  All because of that prominent crest that can be seen in the photograph.

There was only one other moth in the trap – and a dead wren.  This causes concern and I hope it will not happen again.  Wrens lurk around the trap and will occasionally pursue a carpet moth into the undergrowth but this is the first time one has flown into the light-trap and been unable to find its way out.