73.338 Lycophotia porphyria (True-lover's Knot)
fw: 12-15mm (Waring & Townsend), ws: 24-34mm (MBGBI9); Jun-Aug; heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (Erica cinerea); common in acid heathland and high moorland throughout GB
ID: Ground colour usually reddish-brown but ranges from pinkish-brown to blackish-grey; small white or white-outlined oval and kidney marks; sinuate white subbasal and postmedian lines and a more diffuse straight subterminal line; black terminal line interrupted by short white streaks; several white dashes along costa; longer black streaks subdorsally and through stigmata. Xestia agathina (Heath Rustic) can appear similar but has a pale streak along the costa from forewing base to postmedian line.
Dissection
§1 New Forest, Hampshire; 28/05/2010; male
§2 Cyffdy Farm, Gwynedd; 22/06/2010; male
§3 Buttermere, Cumbria; 21/06/2014; male
§4 Winterton, Norfolk; 11/06/2015; male
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Cyffdy Farm, Gwynedd; 22/06/2010; male
§3 Buttermere, Cumbria; 21/06/2014; male
§4 Winterton, Norfolk; 11/06/2015; male
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 14/03/2017 (§1-4)