French Moths

 

Beautiful Marbled - this moth put a silly smile on my face - a true stunner that I've always wanted to see.

 

Just returned from a sunshine family break on a campsite in the south of France. All moths were found in and around the site - most resting beside wash-block lights early in the mornings, but some were 'kicked-up' from a weedy area bordering the vineyard next to the campsite. I didn't take the moth trap - god only knows what I'd have found if I had. Will have to organise that one day! I've yet to identify several of the species pictured (the ones without labels) and have only posted a selection of the most interesting species. If anyone can identify any of the unlabelled moths I'd be most grateful.

Very little proper birding done but species found in the immediate area included Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Roller, Woodlark, Cirl Bunting, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper, Sardinian Warbler, Crested Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Black Redstart, Turtle Dove, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Hobby.

 

Pine Processionary

Least Riband Wave - Idaea rubraria

Achyra nudalis

Four-spotted

Satin Wave

Nola chlamitulalis

Milliere's Wave - Idaea alyssumata

Mecyna asinalis

Pale Oak Beauty - I think

Stemmatophora brunnealis

Pyralid sp

Hoary Footman

Lesser Pearl - Sitochroa verticalis

Box Tree Moth - above the light form and below the dark form - an Asian pest species that feeds on Box (Buxus). The larvae are accidentally imported with plants.

Oak Hook-tip or very similar species

Pyralid sp

Eucrostes indigenata - a tiny but truly gorgeous little moth.

Pine-tree Lappett

Meganola togatolalis

Pale Shoulder

Marbled Clover

Lustrous Least Carpet - Idaea filicata

Ecleora solieraria

Passenger

Phaiogramma etruscaria

Blair's Mocha

Beautiful Yellow Underwing

Argentine Moth - Spatalia argentina

Provencal Wave - Idaea vesubiata?

Tawny Wave

Eublemma candidana - a tiny 'macro'

Diamond-spot Pearl or Beet Webworm - Loxostege sticticalis

Rambur's Wave, Idaea elongaria or could it be Dotted Border Wave?

Fern

Eodonia/Scoparia sp