More Late Moths

Barred Sallow, Xanthia aurago.   Hayes, 4 October 2015.

This colourful moth came to my computer room window early in October.  I have not seen a live one in this area before, though I did find a dead specimen on the woodland floor on Hayes Common last November.  This one's wing was damaged before it arrived.

Dark Chestnut, Conistra ligula.   Hayes, 28 November 2015.

The Dark Chestnut is a likely winter catch.  Its dark glossy scales and, particularly, its squared-off wing-tips distinguish it from the ordinary Chestnut.

November Moth agg, Epirrita dilutata agg.  Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, 29 October 2015.

One of a small group of species impossible to distinguish just from a photo, known collectively as November Moths.  This was actually an October catch at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.

Satellite, Eupsila transversa.   Hayes, 24 October 2015.

The Satellite is named for the two small light dots on either side of the larger wing marking, like satellites orbiting a planet.  I'm surprised it was not called Mars, for that planet's two small moons Phobos and Diemos.

You can see that the moths that are likely to be around during leaf-fall have autumnal colours, whereas the true winter species are quite dowdy in comparison.