2019 December 19

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   Jochen Möhr sends from Metchosin a photograph of a winter moth Operophtera sp., which closely resembles the one shown on December 18.  We repeat here the December 18 moth, and show, below it, today’s moth.  Although they look very similar, I believe the first of these is the native O. occidentalis, and the second is the European O. brumata. 

 

Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

 

   There is a broad dark streak going from about the centre of the forewing to the mid-point of the outer margin.  It is not very obvious in the above specimen, though it becomes clearer when viewed from a distance.  I could be wrong (it happens!), but I believe this indicates occidentalis.  Also, I think the little black dot within the pale medial band, near the costal margin, is also an indicator of occidentalis.

Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

The dark streak and the little dark dot are absent in the specimen.

 

   And now, just as I type this, another dozen have come in from Jochen.  I think there are some of each,  which I’ll label with my best opinion, and a few,  labelled “sp.” that I don’t think I’ll commit myself to!  I wonder if there is any hybridization.  Any comments from viewers are more than welcome.

 

Operophtera sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

Jeremy Tatum writes:  This one seems to be about as clear a case of occidentalis as it is possible to get!

Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae )  Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae )  Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae )  Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae )  Jochen Möhr  

 

Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

 

Operophtera sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

  Since we can’t be exactly sure of this moth, I thought I’d see if we could get an identification on the spider!  Well, of course, the spider cannot be identified with certainty from this photograph, but Dr Robb Bennett has given it his best go.  He suggests that it is an immature theridiid. Possibly, he suggests, the one formerly known as Parasteatoda tepidariorum. (It may have recently moved to a different genus.)

 

Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr