Tony James' photos with the keyword: Arctiidae

Erebidae (Arctiidae), Arctiinae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single specimen came to the trap on the 10th September.

Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae - Wingspan: 36mm. One of a number of species seen in Panama, and when I saw them inevitably, the name "Candy-tails" came to mind, as the colours look like some types of children's sweet-sticks. I wouldn't recommend anyone trying to eat these though, as bright colours in the natural world usually mean "poison"!

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 16mm. A single specimen of this tiny Arctid came to the Light Trap on the 10th.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 37mm. Two specimens came in to our Light Trap on the 9th.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single specimen came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 4th.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 30mm. Somewhat like a "Footman" species, this species has been difficult to identifiy. Although web pictures seem to imply that it is a member of the Monosyntaxis Genus, no illustration is exactly like this single specimen which came to our Light Trap on the 4th.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 45mm. A single specimen came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 3rd.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 45mm. A single specimen came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 3rd.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single specimen came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 3rd.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 37mm. A single specimen came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 3rd.

Erebidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan: 24mm. A pretty little "Wasp" moth which is widespread through the Oriental region, and can be found flying around flowers in the daytime. Two specimens came in to our overnight Light Trap on the 3rd.

Erebidae, Lithosiinae – Wingspan 34mm. A single specimen was recorded at the Light Trap on the 3rd.

Arctiidae, Lithosiinae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single female specimen of this widespread species came to our trap on the sixth night of our stay. This is a nationally scarce species in the UK, with a stronghold in the south-west, particularly common in Cornwall.

Arctiidae, Arctiinae - Wingspan : 36-42mm. This is a pretty day and night-flying species which appears to be widespread in Europe. It mainly occurs around the Mediterranean areas. It is also occasionally a fairly rare Migrant to the southern coast of the UK. Eleven specimens came to the trap through our stay at this location, although they were not seen during the day-time.

Arctiidae, Lithosiinae - Wingspan : 26mm. This little “Footman” was quite common at this location, with a total of 24 specimens being recorded at the trap through our stay.

Arctiidae, Arctiinae Length (Last Instar) : 40mm. After 4 weeks, the growing larvae had reached their final instar, and was approaching pupation when individuals began acting rather strange. Although looking healthy, they would suddenly stop feeding and stayed hunched in one place, slowly shrinking in length, before finally dieing. There was no obvious reason for their plight, and what-ever happened eradicated the whole culture within two weeks. The only possibility, was that the foodplant collected from wild ground by the road-side nearby had been contaminated by a farmer spraying weed-killer or insecticide in the adjacent fields. I have had a similar instance on a new culture of a large species of Phasmid collected in Fiji many years ago which suffered the same fate, with almost the same situation of reaching final instar and then suddenly all dieing. The problem of living in an agricultural environment. :(

Arctiidae, Arctiinae Length (2nd Instar) : 15mm Eggs laid by females of this species when waiting in our holding pots whilst recording them were collected and brought back to the UK to attempt life cycle exploration. After hatching a few weeks later, and following research on the Web, the young larvae were offered coarse grass leaves, which were accepted readily and enthusiastically, and their size progressed continually. Around 50 larvae made up the growing culture.

Arctiidae, Arctiinae Wingspan : 42mm. A common little Tigermoth in this area which came in nightly to our Trap, and a few of the females laid eggs which we attempted to rear. 17 adults were recorded during our stay. Apparently a Mediterranean species.