Autumn Moths

Two Lunar Underwings and one Black Rustic. In my garden light trap on 16 September 2012.

These species in my light trap are a sign that Autumn has arrived. 

For this photo I have placed them on one of the pieces of bark I picked up in the woods specifically for moth photographs.  The two on the right are the same rather variable species, Lunar Underwings, named for a small dark crescent mark in the centre of the underwing.  I'll put a photo below.  To check for its presence I had to stun one (chemically) and open its wings out.  I don't intend to do that to this species more than this once, as they always lose a few wing scales. But I am pleased to say that when I do do it, they always fly away afterwards.

The greyish one is clearly marked, but I thought the brown one might be a different, similar species, so that was the one I checked.  But the lunar mark was there, and now I know what forewing markings are critical for identification.

The Black Rustic is an easy one.  There are no other British moths with a combination of that dark colour, the slight glossiness, and the light outline around the kidney-mark.

 Lunar Underwing, Omphaloscelis lunosa, showing the dark crescent on the underwing.  Hayes, 16 September 2012.