FRIDAY PHOTO: possible Spiny Hook-tip
There is much excitement today within the mothing world. You could even say that we are a-flutter.
Yesterday evening, I was perusing moth Twitter (X Moth?) and came across a post by someone who had identified the first Spiny Hook-tip moth in mainland Britain. He was based just up the road in Stroud and his record was from 6 October.
He posted a photo and I immediately thought: "I recognise that".
So, I looked back through my photos and found the attached photo from 10 October.
Now, you will probably think (as I did) that this is an Oak Hook-tip.
It has a distinctive hook at the apex of the fore-wing, hence the family name Hook-tip. There are 6 species of Hook-tip in the UK and the only one in my moth books that fits the bill is the Oak Hook-tip.
But, look again.
At the apex, there is a white smudge. And, overall, there is a purple-grey sheen. And Oak Hook-tips shouldn't really be flying in October.
These hint at a more unexpected answer.
The Spiny Hook-tip is a moth of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. It should not be here.
However, a population was recently discovered on Guernsey and, in addition to the one on X, a second one has now been identified in south Wales. So, they definitely are here.
And, who knows, perhaps (at least) one has turned up in my garden.
If it has, it will provide further evidence of climate change, because the movement of insects is a barometer of wider changes. Over the next few years, we can expect to see more Mediterranean species moving into the UK and, sadly, some of our species will also be forced northwards, towards the open sea and extinction.
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