Query re Plumed Prominent (Ptilophora plumigera) distribution

[Neil Jones]

In message <3667ee22.14782427 at wingate> triocomp at dial.pipex.com (Chris Raper) writes:
> On 30 Nov 1998 08:22:32 -0800, tony.aw.prichard at bt.com
> (Prichard,AW,NAR7 PRICHAA2 M) wrote:
> 
> >The Plumed Prominent (Ptilophora plumigera) occurs in Suffolk (UK) but seems
> >restricted in the locations it is recorded from. We have searched (light
> >trapped) for it around the county in places where there appears to be plenty
> >of its foodplant but it seems to be restricted to those areas where the
> >foodplant is growing on a chalky soil. Has anybody else had this experience
> >of the moth being restricted to chalky areas?
> 
> Hi Tony,
> 
> I trap very regularly at one site but have limited experience of a few
> others. The only place I have seen Plumed Prom. is on a BBONT nature
> reserve near Bix, Henley, Oxon. There is seems very common in
> October/November for a short flight period - you often get them coming
> to windows in the evening.
> 
> I think it is probably true that they are restricted in range (isn't
> their foodplant Field Maple?) but it may also be because they have a
> short flight period and so few people trap in October/November that
> small populations just aren't being picked up.
> 
> Just a few thoughts... hope that helps
> Chris R.

The foodplant may be the key to this. Skinner says "mainly on field maple
also on sycamore." but Porter's guide to caterpillars only lists field maple.
Most of the field maple that I encounter is on calcareous soils it may
be this factor which limits the moth. If it uses sycamore as well then
it would not be restricted. The problem as ever is determining the original
source of the information. So much information on foodplants gets repeated 
as a result of it being written elsewhere. It could be that it will use
sycamore in captivity. Also there is the possible that it will use
sycamore in the wild but that it is not the best foodplant and the larvae
do not do well on it. This could prevent a colony surviving where there
was no field maple.

Perhaps our European friends have some information on the habits of this
moth on continental Europe?


-- 
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve