Topic: Moths

[Georgie]

Hi.  Can anyone identify this moth I saw in my garden today?  I thought I had a good book on moths - Moths of the British Isles by Bernard Skinnner  - but I'm blowed if I can spot it.   :(

Thanks.  G xx

[Carol]

Hi Georgie, looked up my book and the only Moth it sort of looked like was a Herald.  Have you spotted that one in your book?  Have alook!

 :D :D :D

[Georgie]

Sorry, Carol, it's certainly not a Herald.  Nothing like it in my book and certainly far to early, even for the smoke!  ;)

G xx

[quinny]

I've just pulled out collins garden wildlife of Britain and Europe and it looks the double of a butterfly called a "Comma" Polygonia c-album.

I've scanned it onto my pc but I've no idea how to print it on my post like the old photoshots you guys do.

If you've got a Collins, look it up this babies a doppelganger...

 ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's definitely a comma.

[Twospot Ladybird]

Hi Georgie, Your Moth is not a moth, it's a Butterfly. Definately a Comma (Polygonia c-album). Your picture is almost identical to the one in my book the only difference is the plant that it's sitting on  :)

Have you tried looking on the net for pictures? If you put Polygonia c-album into your search engine, I'm sure you'll find it. What made you think it was a moth?

[Twospot Ladybird]

You should find a good picture of a Comma if you go to http://www.butterfly-conservation.org

[Georgie]

Thanks everyone.  Looked it up in the butterfly book and sure enough, it is a comma.  But that's really odd.  I was always given to understand that butterflies close their wings when they land and only moths keep their wings open.  Hence, I thought it must be a moth because it stayed in that position for a good few minutes. 

G xx

[Robert_Brenchley]

Quite a few butterflies will sun themselves with the wings open.

[Georgie]

I wish the Holly Blues would, I'm dying to capture their delicate lavender colour.   :(

G xx