Sprawler

Sprawler, Asteroscopus sphinx, left; Blair's Shoulder-knot, Lithophane leutieri ssp. hesperica, right.

At Farthing Downs on the morning of 10th November there were only six moths in the trap, and two of them were small micromoths, much more difficult than the macros to identify. One of the macros is shown to the left above.

At first I thought it was a Blair's Shoulder-knot, one of which is shown on the right, but if you're not completely cartain it's worth checking it out against the books, and this one didn't seem to be resting in the expected narrow formation. Gill Peachey, with 10 years' mothing experience, agreed it looked similar, but wasn't happy with the pattern. And Gill soon found the right match; it's a Sprawler.

I thought it might be named for the way it spread its legs out, but the book says it's because its caterpillar rears up with its head back - not what I would have thought of as sprawling, but there it is. The book also says that this moth is unmistakeable; thanks for telling us!

This male, with feathered antennae, looks very smart seen from in front.

Sprawler, Asteroscopus sphinx.  Male.  A Noctuid.  Moth trap at Farthing Downs, 10 November 2011.