A Biodiversity Information System for Cheshire, Halton, Warrington & Wirral

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:32 am**

Pale November?

I know these are notoriously difficult to identify and to separate from E. dilutata and E. autumnata but is it possible to say whether this is a Pale November moth (Epirrita christyi) ? I've seen quite a few recently, this one last night.

Thanks.

Alison

Posted: **Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:31 pm**

Hi Alison,

I'm not sure the four UK species can be identified with certainty from external characters alone. As you know, they are so much alike and with overlaps in just about every department it is one of the hardest groups to split into species.

I've managed a few times to expose male genitalia with a damp paintbrush, gently removing scales and other 'debris' such that you don't have to kill the poor things to get an ID. Even this isn't always successful however and I'm obliged more often than not to 'Epirrita spp.' them. Fortunately we don't get more than a few (<10) per year and haven't had one in 2012 yet, so for us at least its not a major headache.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:23 am**

Thanks Steve.

Alison

A Biodiversity Information System for Cheshire, Halton, Warrington & Wirral

Pale November?

Pale November?

Re: Pale November?

Re: Pale November?