72.022 Diaphora mendica (Muslin Moth)
fw: m14-17mm nocturnal, f17-19mm diurnal (Waring & Townsend), ws: 30-43mm (MBGBI9); May-Jun; various herbaceous plants; common in England & Wales, local in Scotland
Diaphora mendica (Muslin Moth) §2 male
ID: Male forewing ground colour varies from grey-brown to blackish-brown (generally paler in the south, darker in the north) with black spots, female is white with black spots; antenna is bipectinate in male, ciliate in female; dorsum of abdomen is concolorous with wings (grey-brown in male, white in female). Male is unmistakeable, female is similar to some forms of Spilosoma species. Female D.mendica is distinguished from Spilosoma species by the dorsal surface of the abdomen - white in D.mendica, yellow in Spilosoma spp; slightly translucent wings and generally smaller size.
§1 Foulness, Essex; 10/05/2009; male
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/05/2010; male
§3 Foulness, Essex; 17/04/2011; male; fw 15.0mm
§4 Hockley woods, Essex; 06/05/2014; male
§5 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 08/05/2018; female; fw 15.5mm
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 23/04/2019; male; fw 13.4mm
§7 Cliburn Moss, Cumbria; 26/04/2021; male
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/05/2010; male
§3 Foulness, Essex; 17/04/2011; male; fw 15.0mm
§4 Hockley woods, Essex; 06/05/2014; male
§5 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 08/05/2018; female; fw 15.5mm
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 23/04/2019; male; fw 13.4mm
§7 Cliburn Moss, Cumbria; 26/04/2021; male
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 11/03/2015 (§1-4) | §5 added 06/03/2019 | §6 added 06/01/2020 | §7 added 03/06/2021
