Any thoughts on this one? Two nights ago.
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My first thought was aberrant form of Spruce Carpet (or Grey Pine) with much reduced central cross-band, Jane. SC is common around here (and probably everywhere else) but I've never seen one quite like that.
ReplyDeleteAn update on this moth. It’s going to Sam for Gen Det, as there is a feeling it may be a Fir Carpet. I’ve posted it on a recorders FB page and a Belgian guy has shared it around over there and they are saying 100% Fir Carpet. However I will believe it when Sam says it is!!!!!
ReplyDeleteA final conclusion on this moth. I'm afraid it is just an aberrant Spruce Carpet. I dissected it and thought it looked pretty good for a female Fir Carpet, but Peter Hall (expert moth dissector) checked my preparation and considered the genitalia to be inconclusive. He sent images to international experts, and Axel Steiner (a really competent European lepidopterist) said it was certainly an aberrant Spruce Carpet. Martin Townsend said the same thing, and he showed the image to various experts at Saturday's BENHS meeting in London (Martin Honey, Martin Corley & David Brown amongst a few others) and all said a variation of Spruce Carpet.
ReplyDeleteWell done and thankyou to Jane for keeping it in the first place. It's good to have a conclusive ID now.