#Melanic
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cliveaderbys.bsky.social
I don't think I've seen the melanic form of Engrailed before, but I've encountered 2 recently (think I'm right 🤔). #TeamMoth
The 'normal' form from Cromford Moor Melanic form from Cromford Moor Melanic form from Carsington
May 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM
steveormerod.bsky.social
Green-brindled Crescent in two colour morphs: typical on the left, melanic (ab. capucina) on the right.

#MothsMatter
#TeamMoth
October 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
leicesterllama.bsky.social
58 of 24 sp on a much cooler night (5.6 degrees here). Lime Hawk, Scorched Wing & Gold Spot NFY, but not a lot else of interest apart from a melanic Pale Tussock, which I don't recall ever seeing before. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Melanic form of Pale Tussock moth.
May 22, 2025 at 6:25 AM
rwhooster.bsky.social
I was glad to see this Green-brindled Crescent in yesterday's trap, especially since I'd never trapped the melanic form before. #teammoth
Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae).
September 23, 2026 at 7:06 AM
listermj.bsky.social
A melanic Harlequin ladybird resting on a dead leaf. The sky and trees above it are reflected in its glossy body.
On yesterday's dog walk🐾
#insects #ladybird #nature #thelittlethings #10minutesfromhome #photography #eastcoastkin
A close up of what appears to be a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) resting on a dead brown leaf. This one is the black colour form (melanic) with four orange-red spots. It has a glossy black wing case marked with four distinct orange-red blotches and a cream or whitish margin around the edge of the pronotum (section between the head and wing cases). Harlequin ladybirds are extremely variable, with up to 21 black spots on a red or orange background. There is a melanic form, with two or more red spots on a black background. The head has an obvious white triangle in the centre, something that neither of the other two similarly sized species have. Originally from Asia, the harlequin ladybird first arrived in the UK in 2004, and has rapidly become one of the most common ladybirds in the country, particularly in towns and gardens. It is one of our larger species and is a voracious predator - it is able to out-compete our native species for aphid-prey and will also eat other ladybirds' eggs and larvae. It can have multiple broods throughout the spring, summer and autumn, which also gives it a competitive edge.
August 27, 2026 at 10:55 AM
photography-aj.bsky.social
The dark melanic aethiops form of Dark Arches to light in Burntisland, Fife, last night. The only one amongst 22 other more normal individuals. #TeamMoth
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
dominiccollins.bsky.social
Also worth a butchers is this melanic male Pale Brindled Beauty I trapped the other night - the first of its kind I've seen. #TeamMoth
March 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
keithlangdon.bsky.social
Some more "new for year" months have appeared in our Norwich moth trap over the past couple of nights. Early Reveller (Diurnea fagella) inc. a less typical melanic form. Oak Nycteoline (two today were only 6th & 7th garden records) & a personal favourite, Early Grey
#mothsmatter #teammoth
Early Reveller (Diurnea fagella) Early Reveller (Diurnea fagella) melanic form Oak Nycteoline Early Grey
March 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM
listermj.bsky.social
Two melanic Harlequin ladybirds on a weathered wooden fence rail. Another of the standard form is on the edge of the rail.
#insects #ladybird #nature #thelittlethings #10minutesfromhome #photography #eastcoastkin
Two Harlequin ladybirds on (Harmonia axyridis) on an old, weathered wooden fence rail which has a good coverage of lichen. These are the black colour form (melanic) with four orange-red spots. They have a glossy black wing case marked with four distinct orange-red blotches and a cream or whitish margin around the edge of the pronotum (section between the head and wing cases). Another glossy, spotted ladybird on the edge of the wooden rail has rounded, orange-red wing cases with black markings. Harlequin ladybirds are extremely variable, with up to 21 black spots on a red or orange background. There is a melanic form, with two or more red spots on a black background. The head has an obvious white triangle in the centre, something that neither of the other two similarly sized species have. Originally from Asia, the harlequin ladybird first arrived in the UK in 2004, and has rapidly become one of the most common ladybirds in the country, particularly in towns and gardens. It is one of our larger species and is a voracious predator - it is able to out-compete our native species for aphid-prey and will also eat other ladybirds' eggs and larvae. It can have multiple broods throughout the spring, summer and autumn, which also gives it a competitive edge.
September 9, 2026 at 8:22 AM
crawlieswithcri.bsky.social
So cool! Went through the archives and YES this IS the same species - Sabulodes aegrotata

Like I said, huge variety of colors/pattern.

This stunner is not only ochraceous (so we get to use that word!) but is the melanic form.

S. aegrotata only Sabulodes known to have a melanic form.

#inveerts
macro photo looking down on a resting geometrid moth with wings open flat. they are orange-brown with dark chocolate brown bands across most of their wings.
March 15, 2026 at 5:51 PM
demley.bsky.social
Had 7 Box-tree Moths including a melanic. Not sure I have caught one before. Quite spectacular. #TeamMoth
July 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
brianhiestand.bsky.social
My pedantic points: nauseated vs nauseous, and melanic vs melanotic.
January 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
markgolley.bsky.social
Among yesterday's highlights were these two Marbled Browns, one of the scarce melanic form nigrescens which is said to be a bit of an East Anglia speciality. Super looking moths & the dark form was new for us.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth
@norfolkmoths.bsky.social
June 3, 2026 at 7:24 AM
demley.bsky.social
16 species in SJ93 last night. Most surprising I guess was a Magpie Moth and a Riband Wave; late for both. Nice melanic Box-tree moth and a gorgeous Black Rustic. #TeamMoth
October 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
sciencebase.com
Not a huge haul, back with the Skinner and it got down to 3C for me in VC29. The usual motley crew for this time of year

Clouded Drab 2, Common Plume 3, Common Quaker 2, Diurnea fagella (male, melanic form) 1, Double-striped Pug 1, Early Grey 3, Hebrew Character 3

#teamMoth #mothsMatter
Overhead shot of a Double-striped Pug moth Overhead view of Diurnea fagella moth, sometimes known as the March Tubic. This is a male of the melanic form. They are usually much paler, beige. The females have stunted wings
March 27, 2025 at 9:34 AM
tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Western marsh harrier - Busard des roseaux
France

Interesting melanic individual!

#BirdsSeenIn2025
July 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
clydesidewild.bsky.social
Friday 7th March
Just a short walk, early morning.
Common Toad 'one of last year's young' rescued from the canal towpath and placed in a safe place.
White-lipped Snail.
Pale Brindled Beauty 'melanic form'.
Possil Marsh, shrouded in mist.
March 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
tianshenbio.bsky.social
Our miRNA story is now in @science.org ! We found a microRNA, not a protein, that finally solved a long-standing evolutionary mystery of wing coloration in butterflies and moths. (1/n)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A microRNA is the effector gene of a classic evolutionary hotspot locus
In Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), the genomic region around the gene cortex is a “hotspot” locus, repeatedly implicated in generating intraspecific melanic wing color polymorphisms across 100 mi...
www.science.org
December 5, 2024 at 9:36 PM
beardedbirder.bsky.social
These little bastards have caused havock to my box hedging, but you gotta admit that the melanic form is kinda pretty...

#TeamMoth
Cydalima perspectalis Box-tree Moth
September 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
nrg10.bsky.social
If Paolo Zampolli is what Amanda is saying a rapist, abuser, etc! So if and only if he brought melanic to America is truthful; then was melanic his partner, or was she also trafficked by paolo! Hmm still makes NO sense!
April 10, 2026 at 12:27 PM
sweetopossum.bsky.social
Initially, Shota was believed to be a Sumatran Tiger, from Sonda Islands... But, as his melanic fur and origin... He might be the last one of a certain other species 👀

Hizashi's a rescued circus lion. Very smart and curious, he loves humans, but loves even more his very special mate 🖤 #erasermic
May 12, 2026 at 7:27 PM
marineforestal.bsky.social
Está el melanic team por aquí? @hjorvik.bsky.social @bioeaf.bsky.social @drbioblogo.bsky.social @ipathia.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 11:56 AM
bolinabug.bsky.social
New publication on the decline of melanic two-spot ladybirds, with @greghurst.bsky.social and Jack Archer

eje.cz/artkey/eje-2...
Declines in the frequency of melanic Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Northern UK populations
Emily A. HORNETT, Jack ARCHER, Gregory D. D. HURST
eje.cz
November 20, 2024 at 9:28 AM
kirikou.bsky.social
I’m coining the term “Melanic Intuition”. You’re welcome.
February 3, 2025 at 10:51 PM
peterpeatfree.bsky.social
(excuse the Badly exposed photo) but I'm happy to see this Melanic Bumblebee visiting Agapanthus pots in the front garden last night, (we didnt see any last year!) Bombus ruderatus #WildSpaces #NaturGarten #Gardening
July 10, 2025 at 11:15 AM