tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post8934592230925876495..comments2024-03-24T19:02:41.190+00:00Comments on Martin's Moths: 'Earing aidMartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-44863950959791581022015-09-04T09:40:06.301+01:002015-09-04T09:40:06.301+01:00Hi both - and very many apologies for the delay. I...Hi both - and very many apologies for the delay. I seem to have been a bit hectic, what with Convolvulus Hawkmoths buzzing about everywhere. A slight exaggeration, but anyway, I'm really sorry cos these are such interesting subjects.<br /><br />Trent, I agree with you about the exaggerated fuss over the killing of a small number of insects for ID and other examination which is not only reputable but extremely useful and ultimately in the interest of all nature. I'd go so far as to say that young enthusiasts should not be discouraged from collecting as this has been the source of much enthusiasm and expertise among naturalists in times past - and how many young people can afford a decent difital camera?<br /><br />I remember reading how the young Darwin initially decided only to keep any insects and other creatures which he found dead, but this altruism did not last long in the face of practicalities. I also seem to recall from past reading that there is only instance in the UK where collecting was definitely a contributory factor in the decline/loss of a species - when commercial collectors helped to wipe out the Large Copper from its last East Anglian strongholds in the 19th century.<br /><br />Martin, I'm very much obliged for the details of that wonderful book which I had come across but had lost the reference. I will now embark on very careful diplomacy with Penny who has an informal and understandable, but quite firm, ban on our getting any more books - unless, like the Samuel Pepys library at magdalene Coll, Cambridge, we get rid of an existing one as part of the deal. Which I am loath to do. Thanks too for mentioning the recent Guardian piece on Upper Thames Moths, much appreciated. What a source of wisdom that blog is!<br /><br />all warm wishes and thanks gain - and sorry again<br /><br />Martin<br /><br />Martin Wainwrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-83081589582955843592015-08-31T18:48:33.947+01:002015-08-31T18:48:33.947+01:00Hi Martin, do you have "The Scientific names ...Hi Martin, do you have "The Scientific names of the British Lepidoptera - their history and meaning" by the late, great A. Maitland Emmet?:<br />http://www.pensoft.net/book/9724/the-scientific-names-of-the-british-lepidoptera-their-history-and-meaning<br /><br />It's a fascinating book by a master entomologist and classics scholar. For "Amphipoea" he says "amphi" means round, and "poa" means grass, referring to the moths' habitat. It seems clear that "crinanensis" refers to the Crinan Canal, which is apparently the location of capture for the 'type' for this species, and "oculea" refers to the 'eye', that is the reniform stigma marking on the wing. The others are less clear cut - "fucosa" translates as "painted", and Emmet thinks it likely that this was meant to indicate a copy (maybe a counterfeit copy) of oculea, hinting at how similar they are (although he also gives "beautiful" as another possibility). And finally "lucens" does mean shining, but it's not clear to Emmet whether this refers to the generally glossy appearance on the moth, or to the bright spot on the wing.<br /><br />Sadly my own classics education is sadly lacking, and I suspect there are rather fewer entomologists nowadays who could compile such a gloriously pedantic and informative compendium as Maitland Emmet's!Martin Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548201025682845702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-60066559901141711692015-08-28T20:10:19.005+01:002015-08-28T20:10:19.005+01:00Hi Martin,
The level of concern would stop short o...Hi Martin,<br />The level of concern would stop short overnight if the concerned folk were told of the approximate amount of moths/bugs they kill on their vehicle number plates alone after just one hour of driving after dark on a warm evening. One hour, once a year, one car.<br />The answer is in the vicinity of 1,000 x the amount that I have sent for dissection in the last 5 years.<br />It kinda puts this emotive subject into perspective especially when you multiply the one hour drive by the amount of cars on the road.<br />Not to mention the amount of moths killed by the very same drivers when they clip the garden hedge and trim the shrubs killing millions of leaf miners in the ensuing crush of the mulching machine or the incinerator burn.<br />Not forgetting the amount killed by the chemical sprays used to achieve a "town planner" garden loved by many, hated by the more enlightened :)<br />Once they understand that they may not be so squeamish about the killing of a moth in the pursuit of knowledge.<br />That's my take on it for what it's worth.<br />Nice Ear Moth sp. by the way. I've yet to see one.<br />And the Scottish Isles are on my must see list.<br />CheersTrent Duvalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375081875501120850noreply@blogger.com