72.010 Lymantria monacha (Black Arches)
fw: 18-20mm; Jul-Aug; oaks (Quercus spp) and other trees; local in S.England & Wales
ID: Forewing white with well-marked angular black cross-lines, thorax white with 3 black spots; abdomen with pink bands. Form eremita has the white areas of the forewing suffused with grey and may resemble male L.dispar (Gypsy moth) which has less jagged cross-lines and lacks the thoracic black spots. A melanic form occurs in SE.England which may be identified by the pink abdominal bands.
§1 Sibton Park, Kent; 29/09/2010; male
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§3 New Forest, Hampshire; 30/08/2013; female; fw 24.8mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 28/07/2018; male; fw 20.0mm
§5 New Forest, Hampshire; 15/07/2019; male
§6 Pound Wood, Essex; 05/08/2020; female; fw 26.4mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§3 New Forest, Hampshire; 30/08/2013; female; fw 24.8mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 28/07/2018; male; fw 20.0mm
§5 New Forest, Hampshire; 15/07/2019; male
§6 Pound Wood, Essex; 05/08/2020; female; fw 26.4mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 08/03/2015 (§1-3) | §4 added 25/04/2019 | §5 added 01/10/2019 | §6 added 03/02/2021