72.009 Leucoma salicis (White Satin Moth)
fw: 18-27mm; Jul-Aug; aspen & poplars (Populus spp), sallows & willows (Salix spp); resident in S.England especially SE, more local elsewhere in England and E.Wales, migrants may occur throughout GB.
ID: Distinguished from Euproctis spp (Brown-tail, Yellow-tail) by having black and white striped legs, an entirely white abdomen a strong silky sheen to the thinly-scaled forewing and is often larger. Arctornis l-nigrum (Black V moth) (very rare), as its latin name suggests, has a small black 'L' in the centre of the forewing; males may also be distinguished by the feathered antennae which are black and white in L.salicis, orange-brown in A.l-nigrum.
§1 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 14/07/2008; male
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§3 Dungeness, Kent; 11/06/2019; female; fw 25.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§3 Dungeness, Kent; 11/06/2019; female; fw 25.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 07/03/2015 (§1&2) | §3 added 16/02/2020