16 July 2015

16 July 2015 – Bordered White

Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria)

On Wednesday 15 July, we came across the Bordered White, which is a species new to Shandy Hall. It appears in an extraordinary variation of colors, even for just the northern specimens; the ones at Shandy Hall were a tawny color. We happened upon three at once, and all of them were males – distinguishable by their feathery antennae. The Bordered White’s scientific name is Bupalus piniaria, which references Bupalus, a 6th century Greek sculptor, and pinus, the pine-tree genus (a foodplant), respectively. 

The Bordered White’s flight season is generally May-June, but it can be found as late as July and early August in northern Britain, fitting with our discovery. It is interesting that it is listed as a resident and common species in our Field Guide, yet in the multiple years Shandy Hall has been moth-trapping, one hasn’t shown up – which makes it even more intriguing this late in the season! 

Bordered White (♀7  ♂6) Plate 57

Footnote to Plate 57

My favorite moth from today’s trapping is the Shoulder-striped Wainscot.  What I like the most about its appearance is how the two dark lines (the shoulder-stripes) make the light-colored wings look like skeletal hands, or at first glance, almost translucent.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Leucania comma)