December will be magic, again

I’ve waited patiently for one particular species of moth to turn up in the garden and the night before Halloween 2022, it made its inaugural appearance, drawn to a 20-watt fluorescent, ultraviolet lamp – the December Moth. Poecilocampa populi (Linnaeus, 1758). If the name seems anachronistic don’t blame me. The Lepidoptera textbooks tell you it can make an appearance any time between October and January, peak is mid-November.
Male December Moth
When I first started mothing back in late July 2018, I hinted to one of the very experienced enthusiasts I know, a guy called Leonard Cooper, that I’d probably switch off the lamp and put the trap away for the winter. His retort was one of shock and awe, “What, and miss the December Moths!?!?”. So I didn’t and I kept lighting up almost all the way up to Christmas. That year and for the three subsequent seasons I didn’t see a December Moth. I did see a few November Moths, however. They are a very different affair.

Where the December Moth is a chunky and fluffy, lasiocampid*, type moth, with a strand of what Mrs Sciencebase referred to as Christmas lights on its wings, the November is a grey geometer moth. In fact, the November is not really a single moth, there are several species that are superficially identical – November, Pale November, Autumnal Moth, and Small Autumnal Moth. Unless you examine their DNA, raise them from larvae, or examine the males’ genitalia, you cannot k...

Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - October 30, 2022 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Lepidoptera Source Type: blogs