David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
________________________________________________________________Moths
71 – Four-spotted Moths
FOUR-SPOTTED MOTH Tyta
luctuosa
·
The vernacular name of the distinctive Four-spotted Moth Tyta
luctuosa, a
member of the large family Noctuidae (Ophinarinae), would appear to be counterintuitive as it is
perfectly obvious that only two large white spots can be seen on the forewings.
However, if the moth settles with its hindwings partly opened, then white areas
are partly exposed, giving the impression that this species has four white
spots. Clearly this individual, photographed in France, hadn’t read the script!
This moth may be active throughout the day and night, and it has a limited
distribution in the UK where it has declined to a point where only a few
colonies persist, with some sporadic immigration from the Continent. As some
colonies appear to favour railway embankments, it is entirely possible to
speculate that any management of these habitats with herbicidal chemicals to
clear vegetation adjacent to the tracks or for de-icing may not be favourable
to this species.
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