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Monday 24 October 2016

The Late Show

A bit windy and a bit cool last night, so very few moths were in the MV trap in the alder grove this morning. So there's absolutely no reason why it's now after 6 p.m. and I've only just started this post! And is it worth posting? Only seven moths of four species showed: November Moth agg. x 2, Green-brindled  Crescent, Flounced Chestnut x 3 and the one illustrated below:


Dark Chestnut ?

I think it's quite important to get this one right, for although the literature classes both this species and the Chestnut as common, the Carms data seems to suggest that the Chestnut is about 10 times more abundant than the Dark Chestnut in our county. The moth was very shiny, shiny - this is said to be an attribute of the species and not of the Chestnut. The termen seems to be ever so slightly incurved just before the apex, which may be diagnostic. I have a record for Dark Chestnut from 2010, but without any way of verifying this. Your comments would be much appreciated.
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7 comments:

  1. Ian Morgan25 October 2016 at 00:51

    Quick comment: Have a look at Jon`s note in Newsl No 4 Steve. I`ll have a think about your specimen later...must go now - work to do!
    The wings look rather `bowed` (Jon`s term) ie chestnut, but the shiny feature suggests dark chestnut (unless this is the result of wear?)...just hasty, interim thoughts...

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  2. Mel Jones25 October 2016 at 06:17

    My money's on Dark Chestnut, but I've never won the lottery, so what do I know!

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  3. Steve Clarke25 October 2016 at 06:35

    Thank you for that vote of confidence, Mel, but I'm not sure that too many others will share it! We shall have to wait and see.

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  4. GMT25 October 2016 at 14:15

    Pretty sure that's Dark Chestnut. Dark, shiny, and with square wing apex.

    In my Cardiff garden I've only ever had Dark Chestnut. Not a single Chestnut in 10 years, even though it's common in the woods only a mile or so away.

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  5. Steve Clarke25 October 2016 at 14:38

    Thanks very much, George. At last, I may have got one right - delighted!

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  6. Ian Morgan26 October 2016 at 00:42

    Just got back to this to have a `proper look` after reading up on the i/d and glad that it`s now been sorted.

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  7. Steve Clarke26 October 2016 at 01:56

    Yes; Dark Chestnut - but you were quite right to be cautious.

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