26 June 2012

26 June 2012 – Pale Prominent, Pale Ghost, Bright Morning

Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)

My moth station in Shandy Hall’s gardens

What a beautiful morning in Coxwold! The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and the birds were chirping in the treetops, hoping that I would leave the moths unattended for their mid-morning snack.

We found an impressive Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina), who could have been mistaken for a twig from the garden. It is named for its appearance, though with no reference to this camouflage ability. Ptero means ‘feathered’ while stoma and palpina refer to a long densely scaled labial palpus.

We also found a male Ghost Moth, Double Square-spot, Common Swift, White Ermine, Silver-ground Carpet, Green Carpet, Common Footman, Udea olivalis, and a Notocelia cynosblatella.

Well, now it’s time to welcome National Insect Week 2012! Try our Cryptic Crossword Competition compiled by Araucaria of the Guardian Newspaper. You can submit your entries by July 15th for a chance at a prize. Best of luck!    

Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli), male.

Post by Helen Levins