More moth mayhem

Whilst carrying out July's bumblebee survey near Stromness waterworks, we came across a small pale moth. It wasn't a species with which we were familiar, but ObsIdentify was certain that it was a Smoky Wainscot. We did check the area for any panelling which was smouldering away, as these days one can't be too careful on dry moorland.

Smoky Wainscot, Mythimna impura

Upon returning home, before we had even made it through the front door, we discovered another small moth on the house wall. This one turned out to be Scoparia subfusca.

Scoparia subfusca

Over the next few days, a steady stream of other leps made an appearance at Burnbank as we pottered to and fro around home and garden.

Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba

Larch Tortrix, Zeiraphera griseana

Dotted Clay, Xestia baja

Common Rustic, Mesapamea secalis... or is it?

Yes, it wouldn't be a moth blogpost without a bit of controversy, would it? Another moth which fits the description is Lesser Common Rustic, Mesapamea didyma. According to The Larger Moths of Scotland (Leverton and Cubitt 2024), both species are very similar in size (what the heck?!), colouration, flight period, habitat preference and distribution. In fact, their DNA barcode difference is only 0.31%, so dissection is necessary to differentiate between the two. However, I only read that last bit after we had let the moth fly off, so its identity will have to remain a mystery.

Speaking of such things, do you remember the possible Mottled Rustic from about a month ago? To recap, it was found dead in the corridor at home, and as it would be the first record for the county, it was suggested that I send it south for dissection to prove its identity. 

[Drum roll]  The results are in... and it is a Mottled Rustic!

Quite how it came to be indoors at Burnbank, I do not know, as the previous most northerly record was in East Sutherland. Whether it was due to favourable winds or hitching a lift on an Orkney-bound vehicle as an adult, or perhaps a pupa was transported along with some horticultural item?

The deceased moth before despatch to AF

ID confirmed, the genitalia of a male Mottled Rustic (Photo: A Forsyth)

If that was all a bit too graphic for your constitution, here's something on a slightly pleasanter note. Only slightly as, sadly, it is also dead. Recently, a wide swathe of the west coast of the UK has seen an influx of By-the-wind Sailors. These deep blue hydrozoans have been brought to our shores from warmer climes by strong winds and sea currents. Each one is a free-floating colonial animal which feeds on plankton.

After another bumblebee survey, this time around Skaill bay, I was taking a short cut across the beach on the way back to my car. Although the water's edge was a long way away, the previous high tide had obviously washed in hundreds of these weird marine creatures. This was the only one I could find which still had a little of the blue colouration on it.

Remains of a By-the-wind Sailor Velella velella