Introduction to Macro-moth Identification David Slade Lepidoptera County Recorder (VC41) Introduction to Macro-moth Identification • What are moths? • How do you identify them • Moth families • Mysteries and pitfalls What is a Moth? Wikipedia says… The moths are a paraphyletic group of insects related to the butterflies and belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Most lepidopterans are moths and there are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of which are yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are also crepuscular and diurnal species. a group is said to be paraphyletic if it consists of all the descendants of the last common ancestor of the group's members minus a small number of monophyletic groups of descendants, typically just one or two such group Wikipedia also says… Lepidoptera is a large order of insects…. It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world. The term was coined by Linnaeus in 1735 and is derived from Ancient Greek λεπίδος (scale) and πτερόν (wing). Lepidoptera show many variations of the basic body structure that have evolved to gain advantages in lifestyle and distribution. It is among the four most speciose orders, along with the Hymenoptera, Diptera, and the Coleoptera.[1] Lepidopteran species are characterized by scales covering their bodies and wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their extraordinary variety of colours and patterns. Almost all species have some form of membranous wings, except for a few that have reduced wings or are wingless. Like most other insects, butterflies and moths are holometabolous, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. Mating and the laying of eggs are carried out by adults, normally near or on host plants for the larvae. The larvae are commonly called caterpillars, and are completely different from their adult moth or butterfly form, having a cylindrical body with a well-developed head, mandible mouth parts, and from 0 to 11 (usually 8) pairs of prolegs. As they grow, these larvae will change in appearance, going through a series of stages called instars. Once fully matured, the larva develops into a pupa, referred to as a chrysalis in the case of butterflies and a cocoon in the case of moths. A few butterflies and many moth species spin a silk case or cocoon prior to pupating, while others do not, instead going underground. What is a Moth? Dave says… Amazing insects with scales on their wings! What is the Difference… Butterfly vs Moth • Flight time • Butterflies fly during the day • Moths fly at night • Antennae • Butterflies have clubbed antennae • Moths have feathered ones • Posture • Butterflies rest hold wings upright • Moths hold them flat • Overall impression • Butterflies are pretty colours • Moths are dull brown A day flying moth with clubbed antennae! Image of Burnet moth Six-spot Burnet moth (D. Slade) What is the Difference… Butterfly vs Moth • Flight time • Butterflies fly during the day • Moths fly at night • Antennae • Butterflies have clubbed antennae • Moths have feathered ones • Posture • Butterflies rest hold wings upright • Moths hold them flat • Overall impression • Butterflies are pretty colours • Moths are dull brown Moth sitting like a butterfly… Early Thorn (W. Jones) What is the Difference… Butterfly vs Moth • Flight time • Butterflies fly during the day • Moths fly at night • Antennae • Butterflies have clubbed antennae • Moths have feathered ones • Posture • Butterflies rest hold wings upright • Moths hold them flat • Overall impression • Butterflies are pretty colours • Moths are dull brown A dull brown butterfly Dingy Skipper Butterfly (D. Slade) A rather attractive moth Elephant Hawk-moth (D. Slade) What is the Difference… Butterfly vs Moth Nothing - Butterflies are Moths! What is the difference between: Ladybirds and Beetles Hoverfies and True Flies Orchids and Flowering plants Waxcaps and Fungi What is the Difference… Macro vs Micro A large micro – wingspan c35mm Mother of Pearl (D. Slade) A small macro – wingspan c15mm Marsh Oblique-barred (D. Slade) What is the Difference… Macro vs Micro A pseudo-taxonomic split! ‘more evolved’ than butterflies = Macro ‘less evolved’ than butterflies = Micro Explaining the division Goat Moth/ Leopards/ Burnets Swifts Clearwings Micros Butterflies Macros before December 2013 What is the Difference… Macro vs Micro A pseudo-taxonomic split! Phil Stirling’s Definition: Families that are mostly large species = Macro Families that are mostly small species = Micro Some Numbers • 2700 Species of Lepidoptera in UK • 100 Butterflies • 2600 Moths 1600 • 1000 ‘Macros’ 1400 • 1600 ‘Micros’ 1200 1000 Micros • In Glamorgan: 800 • 1700 species Butterflies 600 Macros • 950 Micros 400 • 50 Butterflies 200 • 700 Macros 0 All Lepidoptera Glamorgan Numbers are approximate!! The Old Macro Families • Hepialidae • Lasiocampidae • Cossidae • Saturniidae • Endromidae • Limacodidae • Drepanidae • Zygaenidae • Thyatiridae • Sessiidae • Geometridae • Sphingidae • Notodontidae • Theumetopoeidae • Lymantriidae • Arctiidae • Nolidae • Noctuidae Explaining the division Swifts Goat Moth/ Leopards/ Pyralids Burnets/Clearwings etc Micros Butterflies Macros From December 2013 The New Macro Families • Hepialidae • Drepanidae • Cossidae • Lasiocampidae • Endromidae • Castniidae • Saturniidae • Sesiidae • Sphingidae • Limacodidae • Geometridae • Notodontidae • Zygaenidae • Erebidae • Noctuidae • Nolidae How to identify a moth? How to identify a moth No Is it one Yes you know? Do you think No Yes you know the Check the group/family? species account in the books Look though No Does the book Yes the related confirm what species you thought? You have your ID Did you find Yes a species that fits? Look through No the whole book! How to identify a moth – Is it one you know? Checking the books – what are we looking for? • Are there similar species? • Is the flight period right? • Is the habitat right? • Is the foodplant nearby? • Is it found in my area? Checking the books… Checking the books… Checking the books… https://ukmoths.org.uk/ Checking the books… https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/ https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/ http://www.glamorganmoths.org.uk/ How to identify a moth – Do you know the family? How to identify a moth – Do you know the family? How to identify a moth – Do you know the family? Insect Morphology • Head • Antennae • Eyes • Palps • Thorax • Wings • Legs • Abdomen • Genitalia Terminology – wing markings Terminology Similar Species Similar Species The Macro Families Ghost Common Swift Hepialidae (Swifts) Orange Swift Map-winged Swift Gold Swift Hepialidae (Swifts) Ones you should ‘just know’ Hepialidae (Swifts) Ones you should recognise the family Common Swift – Spring species Orange Swift – Summer species Hepialidae (Swifts) Ones you should recognise the family Map-winged Swift – upland species Gold Swift – scarce, parallel cross lines Cossidae – two to ‘just know’ Goat Moth Leopard Reed Leopard (not in Wales) The Macro Families Sessiidae (Clearwings) Welsh Clearwing Currant Clearwing (George Tordoff) Macro Families not in Wales Limacodidae – Festoon & Triangle Endromidae – Kentish Glory Saturnidae – Emperor and the Silk Moths Zygaenidae (Burnets) Lasiocampidae –Eggars Sphingidae – Hawk-moths Notodontidae Drepanidae Beware the Lutestrings Beware! Not in Drepanidae! Geometridae Geometridae Erebidae • Scoliopteryginae - Herald • Lymantriinae - Tussocks, Vapourer etc • Arctiinae - Tigers • Herminiinae - Fan-foot • Hypenodinae - Snouts • Toxocampinae - Blackneck • Boletobiinae - Beautiful Hook-tip, Small Marbled • Erebinae - Red Underwing, Mother Shipton etc Noctuidae Nolidae Just £10! Intermission Identification Tips Posture Posture Early Thorn (Bill Jones) Posture Purple Thorn Identification Tips Wing Markings Willow Beauty (Bill Jones) Mottled Beauty (Bill Jones) Willow Beauty (Bill Jones) Mottled Beauty (Bill Jones) Willow Beauty (Bill Jones) Mottled Beauty (Bill Jones) http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds4/beautymothidmottledandwillow.htm http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds4/beautymothidmottledandwillow.htm Identification Tips Beware of Aberrations Identification Tips Beware of Colour Identification Tips Hairy Eyes! https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/052- cucullia-umbratica-shark.html https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/053- cucullia-chamomillae-chamomile-shark.html Mystery Moths Ingrailed Clay ©Mike Cram Extreme Mystery Moths Middle spur Apical Spur Hind Tibia © John Day (UK-Moths) Summary • Look at shapes and posture • Don’t get bogged down on detail in markings • Ignore colour up to a point • Check the books and websites • Get to know the groups and families Thanks: Anyone who’s photo I’ve used! http://glamorganmoths.org.uk/ http://gmrg-vc41moths.blogspot.co.uk/ http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/ http://www.sewbrecord.org.uk/ .