Saturday 22 September 2012

Angle Shades moth

This Angle Shades moth, Phlogophora meticulosa, caught the attention of my 8 yr old while it rested on dark moss. Angle Shades are very distinctive moths, as they rest with their wings folded lengthways, but the disruptive wing colour pattern and their crumpled appearance makes them difficult to spot when they rest on dry leaves. I moved it to the fallen leaves of Virginia Creeper, which match the moth's subtle colours, to take its portrait. The species belongs to a group of large noctuid moths - which include the Lesser Yellow Underwing and the silver Y - that are regular migrants to the UK from continental Europe, although the Angle Shades is able to overwinter here as well.

No comments: