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Wildlife/Identity of insect

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Expert: Silver - 10/28/2009


Question

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I'm not sure whether this question falls into your area of expertise, and if not, perhaps you could suggest another website.
A small insect has taken up residency in our our house in the UK and It's been with us for at least a couple of weeks. It's wing span is no more than 2cm.  I managed to take a picture of it, please see attachment.
I've never seen anything quite like it before and I would love to know what it is.
Thanks in anticipation,
Vic West


Answer

Plume Moth
How Fantastic!

Though I have seen others in this family I do not think I have seen this particular type of insect.... I was  really scratching my head because I knew I had seen them but could not remember for the life of me what it was... From all I can assume it is...are you ready? lol.... A PLUME MOTH of some variety. They often look like weird dragonflies because thy fold their wings in such an unusual way.

This guy looks like a Platyptilia falcatalis
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Platyptilia_falcatalis.jpg
http://ukmoths.org.uk/systematic.php#Platyptiliinae If so he could have come across to your country when in larva form and hatched there...Kind of a stow-a-way! I have seen that here in the US with some unusual insects especially tropical spiders on/in house plants.

BUT I am not sure if they live in the UK...Perhaps a I have always though them to be from Australia or New Zealand. There are really quite a few species. Perhaps a Platyptilia pallidactyla or a Platyptilia ochrodactyla?


I will give you a link or two so you can see if  am right. If I am not...then PLEASE follow up and tell me and I will do more detective work to try and find out what else it might be...But I am pretty sure it is a member of that family since they do live on many continents including the Americas, Aus and the UK.

Thank you for giving me such a challenge! I really kinda like bugs..I'm the mom of three teenage kids who often brought home all sorts of critters (especially unusual ones)  for me to see when they were little kids. The other moms thought I was strange but to me the Natural world is FAR more fascinating than anything my kids could see on TV or video game!

Look here at different varieties to see if you can find the exact match!
http://ukmoths.org.uk/systematic.php#Platyptiliinae

Take Care!
Silver

http://wiki.verkata.com/en/wiki/Plume_moth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Platyptilia_falcatalis.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plume_moth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/2889670236  

Silver

Expertise

Can answer On Subjects: Care of orphan / injured birds especially Starlings and House Sparrows/Finches. Care of most small seed, fruit and insect eating birds. Care of some reptiles. Non-Toxic species only. Specifically worked with constrictors (Rosy Boas) and common 'garden' snakes such as as rat and Gopher snakes, Florida Tortoises and Florida and mid-western US box turtles Cannot instruct individuals to care for themselves (long term): Federally protected species

Experience

Lifelong experience doing hands on and self-motivated research on animal care. Game and Wildlife specialist; State of Florida (certified)1980's-1990's Veterinary tech for a State University school of Veterinary Medicine 1980's-1900's Volunteer Wildlife Centers and Veterinary offices in emergency and orphaned baby bird care 2000-now

Organizations
Online organizations/group dedicated to wildlife care

Education/Credentials
College On the job certification and education (State University) Volunteer with large Audubon group for the rescue of tortoise habitat Life-long volunteer in wildlife care.

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