Aquatic Moths

Water Veneer

 

Having 'lost' my first Water Veneer a couple days ago I was relieved to get another bite at the cherry this morning. In fact there were no less than 5 Water Veneers in the trap this morning. This species and the Ringed China Mark pictured below both have larvae that feed on aquatic vegetation. It's amazing to think that this moth spent the first part of its life underwater. The females occur in two forms - one wingless (which remains completely submerged) and one winged. Mating apparently takes place on the surface of the water.

Other species trapped last night included Buff Arches, Common Emerald, Small Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, Garden Carpet, Ruddy Carpet, Barred Straw, Common Marbled Carpet, Slender Pug, Haworth's Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, Willow Beauty, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, The Flame, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, True Lover's Knot, Double Square-spot, Square-spot Rustic, Grey Arches, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Grey/Dark Dagger, Knot Grass, Coronet, Marbled Green, Dark Arches, Minor Agg, Cloaked Minor, Common/Lesser Common Rustic, Uncertain, Rustic, Marbled White-spot, Silver Y, Snout, Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot.

Micros included Common Slender, Elder Pearl, Rusty Dot Pearl, Orange Crest, Ruddy Streak, Small Magpie, Yarrow Plume Moth, Codling moth, Coastal Pearl and Grey Knot-horn.

Whilst photographing the moths a Willow Warbler started singing at the back of the garden. Willow Warblers don't breed anywhere nearby so this bird was clearly an early migrant moving through.

Ringed China Mark

Marbled Green

Marbled White-spot

Grey Knot-horn - Acrobasis advenella (I think).

Yellow-tail (left) and Brown-tail Moths - note the difference in wing shape.

 

Yellow-tail - it adopts this amazing 'abdomen skywards' posture when alarmed. In this case, dropped from its pot on to the bench. No moths were harmed in the making of this blog!

Argyresthia sp

 

Rustic

Presumed Small Grey - Eudonia mercurella