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Post by nomad on Jul 3, 2015 17:31:04 GMT
Last Winter, I was talking to Gina Allnatt, the moth expert at the Oxford University Museum. She explained that in June, along Parks Road near the Museum, in the very heart of the Spire City there is a small emergence of the Hornet Mimic, the Hornet Clearwing Moth Sesia apiformis. Recently, Gina contacted me to say that she had found two different mating pairs on vegetation at the base of the trees. Unfortunately I could not get there until the Saturday and the moths had flown. Gina sent these two super images.   |
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 3, 2015 21:46:46 GMT
Please congratulate Gina on her superb photos of a really beautiful moth. Sessiids are amazing mimics of Hymenoptera. A common species we have here even has very hairy hind legs, which I guess may mimic pollen. Sorry I don't have any photos.
Adam.
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Post by trehopr1 on Jul 3, 2015 21:51:41 GMT
Very cool species Nomad ! I have long admired it and long desired to acquire even just one clean well prepared specimen. I've seen 5 or 6 on EBay over the years with only 3 of them being choice picks (not greasy or worn). But of coarse I was outbid on all 3 that I really liked. Probably, not so hard to get at your European fairs but, over here across the pond a seldom encountered species in most private collections. The first picture I ever saw of it was in a book in my grammar school circa 1970. I'd call that one photo a lasting impression !
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Post by wollastoni on Jul 4, 2015 13:55:55 GMT
What a splendid moth !!!
Great pictures, I've never had the chance to meet any Sesiidae in my life.
Hope to see some one day.
Adam, what's the name of the Thai species ?
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 4, 2015 15:43:10 GMT
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Post by wollastoni on Jul 15, 2015 21:15:37 GMT
As they are rarely offered, some of you may be interested to know that some Sesiidae are for sale on Ebay in the Top German Insect Auctions. |
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