MOTH ID

[JIMCOBB49]

Can anyone help with ID of this small moth?Taken 2 days ago in Angus,Scotland Jim

[bugboy]

Hi Jim, this is a Tortricidae moth of which there are many but the one I'm plumping for is Epiblema cirsiana. There are however quite a lot with that white patch and I would say I'm only about 70% sure on this ID.

[Allan.W.]

Hello Jim ,
I reckon your moth could be the four spotted Tyta Luctuosa ,with its wings closed ,by coincidence ,I was photographing them in Kent yesterday
A rare moth …………..but never heard of them from Scotland ……………..excellent find !
Regards Allan.W. (ps happy to be corrected )

Also four Sotted is a partial day flier ,and it looks like yours was seen ,and maybe disturbed during the day ,they fly in bright sunshine.

[William]

I agree with Bugboy - this is an Epiblema sp. This is either cirsiana or cnicolana (and given the habitat, probably the former, as it feeds on Marsh Thistle). Unfortunately these two species need dissecting to be sure of the identification, so it's not possible to be certain from the photo.

[Pete Eeles]

That's what I concluded too

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/epiblema-cirsiana/

Cheers,

- Pete

[Allan.W.]

Yes ,I stand corrected on that one Gents …...…………… but I,ll tell you what ,when the four Spotted rests ,and closes its wings it looks very similar ! but I can now see that its a micro and not a macro ,and the position of the forewing spot is on the wrong edge ,for a four spotted
………………………. We,re learning all the time !
Regards Allan.W.

[JIMCOBB49]

Thanks to you all,I'm always amazed at the expertise to be found here Jim

[Neil Freeman]

Just out of interest I had one of these to my garden moth trap the other night so here is another view of one. An attractive little moth.

Apparently, until recently E. cirsiana was considered a form of E. scutulana and, as William says above, cannot be separated from this and E.cnicicolana without dissection. In my case I released it after the photo.

Cheers,

Neil