tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7644233114520619744.post8434420365467214689..comments2024-02-20T14:19:00.656+00:00Comments on Ceredigion Moths: Prays fraxinella - Ash Bud MothCeredigion Mothshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11388227521305616170noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7644233114520619744.post-913947690434345102015-05-06T15:17:55.767+01:002015-05-06T15:17:55.767+01:00Thanks for that Peter, I should have been a little...Thanks for that Peter, I should have been a little clearer re the darker form just in case anyone decides to rear any larvae they find. <br />I have been looking for a photo of a dark fraxinella, I know I had one somewhere as I used to get them from next door's ash tree in Lancs.Inahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770985576984008256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7644233114520619744.post-13435144485714351732015-05-06T12:17:11.422+01:002015-05-06T12:17:11.422+01:00For ruficeps, the larvae feed in the bark of Ash a...For ruficeps, the larvae feed in the bark of Ash also. This separation is causing a few headaches. I've been working with 2 others finding reliable differences via dissections, and so far we have only one slight difference for males. There is the dark form of fraxinella also, but the moth is larger and you can usually still see a semblance of wing pattern under the black. Ruficeps is smaller and as the name suggests, has an orange head and is completely dark over the wings. I had one site 3 years ago where ruficeps was abundant and for a while, it was easy to separate. I haven't seen it since! If in doubt, keep any adults. Being a pessimist, I'm assuming Ash dieback will solve the problem soon anyway.Peter Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828069795222628270noreply@blogger.com