73.367 Protolampra sobrina (Cousin German)
fw: 14-17mm (Waring & Townsend; Jul-Aug; bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), heather (Calluna vulgaris), birch (Betula spp); NS-A in birch woodland at >200m in Scottish Highlands.
Protolampra sobrina (Cousin German) §2 male
ID: General colour ranges from pinkish to purplish-grey, often with a paler shade in the proximal half of the forewing. Markings indistinct. Often shows a subbasal black spot (as do several other noctuines). Potential confusion with Diarsia species eg Ingrailed Clay, Purple Clay can usually be settled by the absence of a dark spot between the oval mark and the dorsum in P.sobrina, though D.mendica does not always show this feature.
"Cousin-german" is an antiquated term for a first cousin; the "german" bit deriving from "germain" rather than "from Germany". There are other species of moth in Africa and North America with "German Cousin" as their English name. It is not entirely clear why a moth should be given this name but it probably refers to the difficulty of distinguishing it from several closely related species (and the terms "Suspected", "Confused" and "Uncertain" had already been taken).
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
"Cousin-german" is an antiquated term for a first cousin; the "german" bit deriving from "germain" rather than "from Germany". There are other species of moth in Africa and North America with "German Cousin" as their English name. It is not entirely clear why a moth should be given this name but it probably refers to the difficulty of distinguishing it from several closely related species (and the terms "Suspected", "Confused" and "Uncertain" had already been taken).
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
§1 Insh Marshes, Inverness-shire; 01/08/2023; male; 15.1mm
§2 Inveruglas, Inverness-shire; 30/07/2023; male; fw 16.5mm
§3 Inveruglas, Inverness-shire; 30/07/2023; male; fw 16.4mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Inveruglas, Inverness-shire; 30/07/2023; male; fw 16.5mm
§3 Inveruglas, Inverness-shire; 30/07/2023; male; fw 16.4mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 03/08/2023 (§1&2) | §3 and dissection images of §1&2 added 13/12/2023
