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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Georgie on May 15, 2005, 20:31:39

Title: Moths
Post by: Georgie on May 15, 2005, 20:31:39
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

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Moth2.jpg)
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Carol on May 15, 2005, 20:47:09
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
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Georgie on May 15, 2005, 20:52:19
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
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: quinny on May 15, 2005, 21:31:49
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
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 16, 2005, 07:00:29
It's definitely a comma.
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Twospot Ladybird on May 16, 2005, 08:54:18
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?
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Twospot Ladybird on May 16, 2005, 08:58:42
You should find a good picture of a Comma if you go to http://www.butterfly-conservation.org
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Georgie on May 16, 2005, 20:33:17
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
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 16, 2005, 20:37:53
Quite a few butterflies will sun themselves with the wings open.
Title: Re: Moths
Post by: Georgie on May 16, 2005, 20:44:52
I wish the Holly Blues would, I'm dying to capture their delicate lavender colour.   :(

G xx