Two steps forward, one step back

There I was yesterday, in a quietly modest way, considering that I'd had quite a good day with the micro-moths. I'd tweeted a few out, composed yesterday's blog post and all was well. This morning my identification frailties have been exposed. In a very polite message, Bill Dykes (who really knows his stuff) pointed out that my tristrigella was, in fact, an ohridella, and that the Gypsoma that I'd called a dealbana was an aceriana. These have now been rectified. However, I was able to get one positive confirmation from Bill as I had sent him a picture of a moth that I suspected was Recurvaria nanella. Thankfully he agreed.

It can be frustrating this moth business. Macros are normally - but not always! - forgiving, whereas micros are just a multitude of tiny scales that vary considerably even within a species. They call for a cool head, an analytical mind and patience. I've just placed an order for all three!

In the meantime, here is a smart micro that I am pretty sure I know the name of. Unless you know otherwise...

Aspilapteryx tringipenella - I hope...

Comments

Stewart said…
Spot on Steve.
16 July 2020 at 15:34
Steve Gale said…
I would have been in trouble if it hadn’t been...
17 July 2020 at 09:05
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