Paul Chapman
Well-known member
Spiny Hooktip was recorded as new to Britain on 7th October 2023 in Gloucestershire. That autumn, I had two gendetted examples on 18th October 2023 from my garden in Clevedon & there were other gendetted examples from Bristol, Weston-super-mare & Cardiff. During this year, I am aware of other gendetted examples from Wiltshire, Cardiff, Gloucestershire & Weston-super-mare. But Bristol appears to be the epicentre & there are convincing photographs going back a couple of years.
The moth had moved north & colonised the Channel Islands but oddly, I am unaware of records on the south coast. This may be that they are still being overlooked as people do not realise the variability of Spiny Hooktip assuming all are darker & purple & all have a white flash in the wing tip. I think that is wrong. I also think that Spiny can wear quite quickly to have pretty restricted black in the wing tip. In such circumstances, the angle of the outermost black mark is key as well as the separation in the black marks in my view.
My identifications tend to be based on more restricted black in the wing tip with normally two separated black marks with a sharper angle in comparison to a shallower angle & blurred dark area in Oak Hooktip as well as occasionally darker or more purplish colouration, slightly larger size & darker crossband with straighter edges.
The issue is really whether Oak can wear to look like those wingtip markings? My assumptions need to be tested by a few dissected examples.
Mark Lawlor's analysis from the Channel Islands is attached as well as my current assumptions. I will update this in due course including if my assumed Spiny Hooktips prove to be Oak Hooktip after all....
All the best
Paul
The moth had moved north & colonised the Channel Islands but oddly, I am unaware of records on the south coast. This may be that they are still being overlooked as people do not realise the variability of Spiny Hooktip assuming all are darker & purple & all have a white flash in the wing tip. I think that is wrong. I also think that Spiny can wear quite quickly to have pretty restricted black in the wing tip. In such circumstances, the angle of the outermost black mark is key as well as the separation in the black marks in my view.
My identifications tend to be based on more restricted black in the wing tip with normally two separated black marks with a sharper angle in comparison to a shallower angle & blurred dark area in Oak Hooktip as well as occasionally darker or more purplish colouration, slightly larger size & darker crossband with straighter edges.
The issue is really whether Oak can wear to look like those wingtip markings? My assumptions need to be tested by a few dissected examples.
Mark Lawlor's analysis from the Channel Islands is attached as well as my current assumptions. I will update this in due course including if my assumed Spiny Hooktips prove to be Oak Hooktip after all....
All the best
Paul
Attachments
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65.002 Oak Hook-tip F 001 (2024.09.03).jpeg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.08.31) (Bob) 001 compared to Oak Hook-tip (annotated).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.09.03) comparison to Oak (Watercress) & Spiny Hook-tips (Clevedon...jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.09.03) comparison to Oak (Watercress) & Spiny (Clevedon) (annotat...jpg -
65.002 Oak Hook-tip (2024.09.03) compared to Spiny Hook-tip (annotated).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.08.31) (Bob) 004.jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.08.31) (Bob) 002.JPG -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.08.30) (Bob) 004.jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.09.03).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2023.10.18) Gendetted 002 (Garden).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2023.10.18) Gendetted 003 (Garden).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2023.10.18) Gendetted 001 (Garden).jpg -
65.0021 Spiny Hook-tip (2024.08.30) (Bob) 001.jpg -
IMG-20240803-WA0015.jpg
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