5 October 2013
5 October 2013 – Snouts and Liquorice Papers
Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) |
When the trap was inspected, this moth was rolled-up like a charred liquorice-paper (the wings wrapped around the moth’s body making a sort of tube) and was sheltering in an egg-box. The Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) is an immigrant and its Latin name means ‘of the fields’. It is identified by the Greek letter Y (ypsilon) that can be seen as part of the kidney mark. Can you see it?
The illustration beneath seems to indicate that the hind-wings are blue, which is certainly not the case in Skinner’s Colour Identification Guide to the Moths of the British Isles (Plate #25). The ‘Y’ is clearly visible in the illustration so perhaps the C19 colourist wearied of pale-cream under-wings (correct) and decided to liven up the image with a touch of sky (wrong). I was unable to check as it promptly took flight after this photogpraph.
Either way that takes the total to 320.
The photograph beneath is of a 2nd generation Snout (Hypena proboscialis). This moth is much smaller and greyer than the first generation version – but its nose is still as big. I’d better write a chapter on noses.
The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) |
Recent Moths
- 25 July 2023 – Collective Noun for Hawkmoths
- MOTH LIST to August 2023 with links
- 28 July 2023 – TRIPLE New Species Alert!
- 18 July 2023 – A Golden…Plusia!
- 13 July 2023 – Arts and Sciences
- 10 July 2023 – Rise of the Yellow Underwings
- 4 July 2023 – Cold-weather Catch
- 4 July 2023 – Mother of Pearl, an Inspiration to Science
- 28 June 2023 – Buff-tipped Marble
- 23 June 2023 – Moth or Butterfly?
- 20 June 2023 – Bee, Straw, Emerald and a Ghost
- 17 June 2023 – Old and New