Phlyctaenia coronata. No, I hadn't heard of it either! But there is was in my garden, by the light of the torch, supping away at my Hemp Agrimony flowers.
Fortunately, a gentleman called Jim Porter recently decided to give all the micromoth species found in the UK a vernacular name to complement the Latin name, and so - if you want to - you can now call Phlyctaenia coronata by the rather more accessible name of 'Elder Pearl'.
It turns out that the caterpillars of the Elder Pearl feed on young Elder leaves. I've also found out that an August record is quite late - it is usually seen in June and July. And it also seems to be quite widespread in the country, so if you have Elder growing nearby, this little chap could well be in your flower bed.
It's amazing to think that so many of our smaller creatures have long been known about by the experts. The Elder Pearl, for example, was first classified in 1767 by a man called Hufnagel. And 243 years on, there it is, happily living out its existence in my neighbourhood, and yet I'd never seen it and I expect that no-one else in my street has ever noticed it either.
It's when I see things like this that I wonder what other secrets my garden might hold.
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
To Adrian Thomas,
I have just seen your comment dated 7th Sept. Yes, the Heslop names were published, but my copy is only a photocopied version of the original. I don't know how many copies were distributed and sold in 1945. My own preference is to use the scientific names for the smaller species anyway. Common names are not subjected to the same rules which apply to scientific names, so there is nothing to stop anybody giving common names to absolutely any moths they choose. You could devise one yourself if you so wished. In fact I have devised my own numerical system for Leps, and the system has served me well for very many years----and is still being gradually expanded. I have not accepted Jim Porter's common name for L485 Phlyctaenia coronata into my notes, as it has not been listed either in the Bradley 2000 Check List or in I. Kimber's UK Moths list of 2010.
John L. Gregory