Anyone good at moths?

[David M]

Seen in the Spanish Pyrenean foothills a few weeks ago:

Anyone any pointers?

[Padfield]

Hi David. It's a geometer, and my best bet is waved umber, Menophra abruptaria. I can't explain the violet/blue colour though, unless the mercury vapour lights are still on ...

Guy

[Neil Freeman]

I am far from expert in Spanish moths but to me it looks similar to a Bordered Grey Selidosema brunnearia so possibly a continental relative of that species.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

Thanks, both.

I've also had Neognopharmia stevenaria put forward elsewhere.

Moths are far trickier than butterflies!

[Neil Freeman]

I've also had Neognopharmia stevenaria put forward elsewhere.

Just looked that up David and it looks to be it. Not a UK species so not one I am familiar with.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Padfield]

I looked through Leraut's volume on Geometers and simply didn't see that one - but it's definitely it. It's local but flies throughout Spain.

Leraut describes the colour as a handsome ash-grey. I think the blue colour is either an artefact or a notable variation (actually, it reminds me of 'that dress', that was an internet sensation a few years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dress).

This is the problem I have with moths! I recognise something as a Geometer or Noctuid or whatever, then there are thousands of similar species spread over hundreds of pages and I just haven't got the feel for the genera yet.

Guy

[Neil Freeman]

I think the colour shift has been produced in the camera. When I photograph moths from my moth trap I have noticed that my camera will sometimes produce similar colour shifts under certain lighting condtions. This is one of the reasons that I like to take my moth photos in daylight and against the same backgrounds.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

The blue shade is probably due to the image being taken in dull light as Neil says.

I'm pretty much convinced of the identity though. All the markings and the general wing shape match up.

[MikeOxon]

I think the colour shift has been produced in the camera.

Be very wary of 'auto' colour balance, which is easily misled if the subject is not 'typical' ( as defined by the camera maker)

It's better to set the appropriate white balance for the light conditions at the time and better still to match the colour balance in the camera to the colour temperature of an applied light-source - flash or 6500K LED as examples.

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

Not just the camera colour balance, but how an image is post-processed.  I converted to monochrome to enable the wing pattern to be clear without any distraction from colour.

Jack