Last night I ran my Skinner for five hours, at a site, close to the western portal of the Merthyr to Aberdare railway tunnel (disused) and despite temperatures remaining in the low double figures, had very little to show for it; just around 30 moths of 19 species, the highlight being four Black Arches. As I was knocking down, this tortrix appeared on the trap and as it looked distinctive enough, I photographed it. Today, I have puzzled over it and failed to identify it, but I have the feeling it may be a Zeiraphera; possibly isertana, though as Larch was close by, griseana couldn't be ruled out. Of course, it is entirely possible that I am barking up completely the wrong tree, so suggestions would be welcome, please.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKIypktKDvolOuuSvNfbi0WRS8FB7gpHL4I_kkTeZLbT253_EebOXkF0XlZYTfBNVe5I3uId6gz40AKhJUBsaI12_h4YFnGb6Sk7AuCnBVcd1ti4ySyFlUBCE8t_bSYnezbttnIXfyt4/s400/D7000.+2015.08.30+096.NEF.jpg) |
Zeiraphera Sp? |
During the session, I spent much of the time wandering about, searching for interesting things in the vegetation close by and on a bramble, I came across this larva of Peach Blossom.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamH3dwcwl6Lp5iqfvQ-bLGZKqN1zEHDRBsVw3XLA8sGENJm6hbDKokfhV-XX0PE8rt7t4nCvEvvnvplaScOFDUdHzWV9-tleSDAR7644Qjw5ShYt6Ytn2E1cFfi17UMz8TRY-CeZ02PA/s400/D7000.+2015.08.30+083.NEF.jpg) |
Peach Blossom |
While being photographed, at first, it took evasive action and dropped from the leaf, hanging from a safety line of silk, but ten minutes or so later, it had climbed back up onto the leaf.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydLXMBehJfZ5jSzJJ7UQn5uzj-evz7k-Xe7GjHLAzQcKZxjtzmfTAP2wMFb-LMJbT35M6Xmeb5xnRfiVlyjSqnwKnKi62gFMh-31GfUU61IKDbhw_IGgU4MZg46kqZFiCb4rQXKJtz5A/s400/D7000.+2015.08.30+082.NEF.jpg) |
Peach Blossom Hanging by a Thread |
There is a very similar image on UK Moths for Epinotia nisella .... what do you think?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Howard. I'd say you are spot on with that. I had a feeling that I'd encountered it previously and I have indeed had E. nisella before, but that black blotch had me stumped, as all the previous ones I had trapped were more conventionally marked.
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