Album 2008 Lake Garda Moths from Tony James

IG024 Idaea degeneraria (Portland Ribbon Wave)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:11 +0000

Geometridae Wingspan: 24mm.
An occasional immigrant to the UK, this species seems to be widespread through the rest of Europe. This single specimen appeared dead in the Trap on the last night, and was a bit faded.

IG023 Epirrhoe alternata (Common Carpet)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:15 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae Wingspan: 26mm.
A common species throughout Europe and the UK. When disturbed, they rest with their wings upright like butterflies, so I gave up getting a live picture. Here is the set specimen instead.

IG022 Eilema caniola (Hoary Footman)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:18 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Lithosiinae Wingspan: 32mm.
A "local" species throughout Europe and the UK, and not seen very often. A single specimen came in to the Trap towards the end of our stay

IG021 Idaea filicata (Lustrous Least Carpet)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:20 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae Wingspan: 15mm.
This small species is one of a number of European species which are all similar. Strangely their common names imply that they are in the "Carpet" group, whereas from their Genus they should be referred to as "Waves". A single specimen was recorded during our stay.

IG020 Scopula ornata (Lace Border) Ova

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:22 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae
A small row of eggs laid by the adult moth shown. Each egg was 1mm in diameter, but they didn't hatch to produce a further population.

IG020 Scopula ornata (Lace Border)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:24 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae Wingspan: 27mm.
This pretty species appears to be widespread in Europe, including the UK, although this was the first specimen we have trapped. A female, it laid a small number of eggs (see next picture) in the plastic pot whilst waiting for its picture to be taken.

IG019 Caradrina aspersa

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:26 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan: 30mm.
Another single brown non-descript moth which came into the over-night Trap. Apparently, this is a Southern European species.

IG018 Watsonalla binaria (Oak Hook-tip)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:28 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Drepanidae Wingspan: 38mm.
A pretty woodland species. The single specimen recorded was a pleasant surprise in the trap one morning. Unfortunately the live picture suffered heavily from flare from the flash, and although I've tried to eradicate the effects I've not succeeded satisfactorily yet. In the meantime, this is a picture of the specimen taken recently.

IG017 Pseudoips prasinana (Green Silver-lines)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:30 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan: 38mm.
This pretty woodland species seems to be locally widespread in Europe, including the UK. One specimen was recorded during our stay.

IG016 Idaea determinata (Sandy Wave) ?

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:32 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae Wingspan: 20mm.
This little moth had managed to find its way into the centre of one of the UV lamps on the trap and was found dead there. Overnight it had been baked dry by the heat of the unit, so the colours may have been affected by this. However, the nearest species I can find like it is the "Sandy Wave" on the www.leps.it web-site. Any other ideas would be welcome.

IG015 Thera variata

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:33 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae Wingspan: 31mm.
Although at first impression, this species looks like the UK Thera britannica (Spruce Carpet), the patterns are notably different on closer inspection. This is a closely related Southern European species not seen in the UK.

IG014 Ephestia welseriella

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:36 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Pyralidae Wingspan: 19mm.
A small, undistinguished Pyralid which seems to occur in Southern Europe. Two were recorded through our stay at Garda.

IG013 Agrotis exclamationis (Heart & Dart)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:38 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan: 36mm.
This is one of the "Heart & Dart"s which had me concerned whether I had the species ID correct. The wing-tip patterns are not what I would associate with this species.

IG012 Mythimna l-album (L-album Wainscot)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:40 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan: 34mm.
A migrant species which appears to be widespread in Europe. Considered a Nationally Scarce immigrant in the UK, it is usually found established along southern coastal areas.

IG011 Idaea biselata (Small Fan-footed Wave)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:43 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Geometridae. Wingspan: 20mm.
This little moth arrived the worse for wear. It appeared the have survived an attack by predators, but the wings were torn and bits missing. To aid identification, I used a picture editing program to copy remaining good bits from one side into the damaged areas on the other and blended them in to make it whole again.

IG010 Paradrina flavirena (Lorimer's Rustic)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:44 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan 32mm.
A fairly non-descript dark Noctuid misidentified at first. Further check against this photograph reveals that this is a rare migrant to the UK.

IG009 Agrotis cinerea (Light Feathered Rustic)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:46 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Noctuidae Wingspan: 36mm.
A scarce species in the UK, which is usually much more grey than brown, as this specimen is. The first and only specimen I've seen took some time to recognise.

IG008 Calliteara pudibunda (Pale Tussock)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:49 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Lymantridae Wingspan 56mm.
A common species in the UK, it was an unexpected visitor at Garda. Only one specimen arrived during our stay.

IG007 Saturnia pyri (Great Peacock Moth)

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:52 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Saturnidae Wingspan: 142mm.
Two specimens of this large Silk-moth came to our trap on the 12th May, one landing as shown here just outside the Net Trap. The other was actually inside the Trap having fallen through the funnel with the smaller bottom hole only 35mm in diameter. I'm surprised this size moth can get in, but time and again, large moths have proven it possible.

IG006 Coleophora sps.

nobody@ipernity.com (Tony James) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:49:53 +0000

Tony James has posted:

Coleophoridae Wingspan: 20mm.
A large family of "micro-moths" (234 species in Italy), many of which are difficult to differentiate, because of similar markings. Without genitalia dissection, it can't be determined. Thanks for the extra information Martin.