Anybody Collect Micro Moths.

[nomad]

Do any members still collect micro moths, I believe from a recent post nomihoudai might. I Have always been interested in Macro moths and formed a large collection. Recently with the publication of The Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland by Phil Sterling and Mark Parsons [2012] I have become interested in the microlepidoptera. The above book may also be of use to lepidopterists on the continent, as most of the species also occur in Europe. It is illustrated by the best lepidopterist artist around today, Richard Lewington, who I have had the pleasure of meeting. With the publication of The Microlepidoptera of Wiltshire by Stephen Palmer in 2001, I really have no excuse for not studying and perhaps forming a collection of these interesting insects, they certainly would not take up much cabinet space. I Suppose I never formed a collection of these tiny moths because of the intricate setting techniques involved. I should be very please to be able to view any microlepdoptera specimens that members have set and how they managed to do this, surely a large table magnifying glass would be in order. The many Victorian microlepidoptera collectors seemed to manage very well and I have seen some of their exquisitely set specimens. Although tiny, these moths can be very beautifully marked and have very interesting life cycles.
Below are two species that I have recently photographed and I believe these images show how these small moths can be just as beautiful as the larger ones.

The first image is of the very striking Anania funebris [ White Sotted Sable ] of the Crambidae family which might be familiar with North American collectors. Its range includes Europe, Siberia, Far East and North America. The larvae feed on Golden road [ Solidago virgaurea] and this moth is very local in the UK. I have noticed that the moth seems to have a peculiar spinning motion when in flight.
The second is of a common micro moth the Adela reaumurella [ The Green Longhorn Moth] of the Adelidae family which are sometimes known as the fairy Longhorns. The latter is a very apt name for this group because when in flight they seem to dance up and down and when Adela reaumurella dance in swarms, it is a very attractive sight. Although frequent this is a very nice species with its metallic bronze green upper wings and very long Whitish antennae. The moth also occurs in parts of Europe.


Anania funebris in Scotland.


Adela reaumurella

[nomihoudai]

I believe from a recent post nomihoudai might

Yes I do! Microlepidoptera are much smaller than butterflies and moths, but they have even brighter and more interesting colors than any other species. No wonder as they make out the substantial part of the family Lepidoptera. It is interesting to collect them as you need different techniques for them. Some of them can be collect at your light trap right from the sheet, but most of the species fly at dawn and you have to take a wooden stick and hit trees and bushes to find them. Every time you hit a bush a new interesting specimen might fly out which is thrilling. Also many species can be found by knowing their hosts. Some of them live in bird nests and you have to collect bird nests in autumn and but these in a jar and wait for emerging species. Collecting leaves in winter with leaf mines also proves successful. There is too many techniques involved in finding them, that I cannot explain all of them here.

Spreading them is explained in detail by Chris, here: www.theskepticalmoth.com/techniques/spreading-microlepidoptera/

I do a similar technique by using a piece of Styrofoam with a groove and paper strips as explained here: insectnet.proboards.com/thread/4373/longhornmoth

I don't need a lens as my eyes are still very good.

[nomad]

Thanks for the details Claude and the links. I believe the term microlepidoptera is a artificial grouping and these wonderful insects do not differ apart from their size in anyway to the larger moths. Your set specimens are superb, what species are they, any interesting information on them. What works do you use to identify your captures.

[nomihoudai]

The first picture is a Tortricidae. It is either Olethreutes arcuella or Olethreutes subtilana, they look very similar and only differ in body size. Thus it is impossible for me to ID it better right now.

The second picture is a Phyllonorycter, it should be Phyllonorycter muelleriella. Although this specimen has been collected at a light trap, the general way for Phyllonorycter is to check for leaf mines with a pupae in them during autumn and early winter on young oaks. It usually doesn't take more than 5 minutes to find the first pupae.

The last species is Alabonia geoffrella for sure. An Oecophoridae. The caterpillars of this species feed on rotten wood.

I use websites as identification tools as the literature on microlepidoptera is specialised and expensive. Two good resources are this website: lepidoptera.pl/Thumbnails2.php?family=Tortricidae&mode=up&country=XX (you can switch family at the top) and the German butterfly photographer forum: lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Fotouebersichten

I liked your picture of Anania funebris, I have not seen that species yet. I had started a larger Crambidae collection but stopped with it recently as so many people are working on this group.

[nomad]

Claude, again very interesting information. In the UK there are 1700 different species of micro moths and there is a excellent website with images and information on most of them, it is the UK Moth website at this link. I now use this excellent website.

[nomad]

I am pleased to say we have Alabonia geoffrella in Britain and on the UK Moth website there are some lovely images and they call this micro a spectacular day-flying species that is reasonably common in woodlands and marshlands. We also have Phyllonorycter muelleriella, a species of ancient oak woods here.

[nomad]

Here is a species of Plume moth, surely one of the weirdest and most primitive of all moth families.



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Merrifieldia baliodactylus of the family Pterophoridae inhabits Calcareous soils. The larvae feed on the herb Wild Marjoram [organum vulgae]. This one was found on the Cotswold Hills [U.K.] the other day.

[nomad]

Here is a very tiny micro-moth that I found today, the common Anthophila Fabriciana [ Linnaeus 1767 ] of the Choreutidae family. This tiny species spends most of its time hovering over the foodplant nettle and is sometimes called the Nettle-tap Moth.

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[jensb]

Hi because of nomihaudai i started whit some microlepidoptera.
This is my 3th micro i did set.


Greets jens

[prillbug4]

Yes, I do. I've posted a number of times that I collect them.
Jeff Prill

[nomad]

Jul 8, 2013 10:13:05 GMT -8 prillbug4 said:

Yes, I do. I've posted a number of times that I collect them.
Jeff Prill

Any chance of seeing some of your favourite specimens?

[bluemoth]

I collect them to. There are so many butiful kinds. Plenty of veriety here in my part of CA.

[prillbug4]

I don't have a digital camera, so I can't upload any photographs.
Jeff Prll