I am a Stick
I came across this Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala), whilst out walking and taking butterflies at Pignal Inclosure at the weekend. It so resembles a stick, that I almost walked by. My brother who was with me on the day, thought I was taking a stick, and at first thought I had gone slightly mad or was losing my eyesight taking close up shots of it.
The buff-tip moth has a wingspan of 55-68mm and is a twig mimic. It is apparently a fairly common moth, though it’s the first I’ve seen it, and can be found over most of the UK. It is around between May and August.. According to the UK Safari website, “The buff tip moth gets its name from the buff coloured wing tips. The main areas of the wings are covered with silvery scales which cleverly disguise this moth as a broken twig from a silver birch tree.”
This first shot is a side on portrait of the moth.
Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/250 in Natural Light.
The next two shots, show it from above – and how much it resembles a stick, and its tail end.
I am a Stick – Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/320 in Natural Light.
Tail of Buff-tip Moth. (Image is cropped). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/320 in Natural Light.
I enlisted the assistant of my brothers finger to take these head on shots of the moth.
Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala) head. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F5.6 1/250 in Natural Light.
Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala) on finger for scale. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/320 in Natural Light.
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Map of Location
Pignal Inclosure , New Forest.
