2018 February 7

 

   Moths are beginning to show themselves at least in Metchosin.  Jochen Moehr sends a couple of geometrid photographs.  Hydriomena nubilofasciata is one of the earliest moths to appear in the year.  Moth of the genus Hydriomena are often called “highfliers” – though I don’t know if they all fly particularly high. The caterpillar of this one feeds on oak, and the moth has gained the English name Oak Winter Highflier.  The other one is a “pug”, genus Eupithecia.  There are lots of species of these, and they are difficult to tell apart, so we often have to settle for “Eupithecia sp.”   Our (Libby Avis and Jeremy Tatum) best guess is maybe annulata.

 

Hydriomena nubilofasciata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 

 

Eupithecia (maybe annulata) (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr