Moth numbers drop againWell, after the small moth bonanza on Tuesday I’ve only had 5 moths of 3 species yesterday and 5 moths of 3 species today. I think the wind may have contributed to the low moth numbers. However, there was one new backyard species for the year on each day. Yesterday, it was a Stormy Arches (Polia nimbosa) and today it was a rather beaten up Apamea commoda. The Apamea commoda was in the bait trap so perhaps I will start to see a few species from that source now. I haven’t included a photograph of the A. commoda as I am sure I will get this moth again and hopefully in a better condition.
The moths return!Today there was certainly a dramatic increase in moth numbers as compared to any previous day this year. There were 19 moths of 16 species in the light trap this morning. This included 9 new species for the year and 2 possibly 3 backyard species that I haven’t seen before. The new species for the year were: Pepper & Salt Geometer (Biston betularia cognataria) Impressed Dagger Moth (Acronicta impressa), Sphinx vashti (Vashti sphinx) and Poplar Kitten (Furcula scolopendrina) were the yard species that I haven’t recorded before. Actually, from what I understand Furcula scolopendrina and f. occidentalis cannot be separated with 100% confidence without dissection and both species occur in my area. However, after studying photographs etc. I’m tentatively calling this one Furcula scolopendrina. Thanks again to Gary Anweiler for confirming my Impressed Dagger Moth ID. With regards to the Sphinx vashti (Vashti sphinx), I’ve seen this Sphinx moth many times in the Twin Butte area of southern Alberta, in fact this was my first Sphinx moth but it is the first time I have had one in my yard since I started backyard moth trapping in 2007. One other note, I always struggle with the Trichordestra species but think this is Trichordestra liquida. I’ve included 2 micro moth photographs but they cannot be identified to the species level without dissection. Thanks to Greg Pohl for the micro information and for placing one in the Alucita genus.
A few moths as the weather settles downNot too much yesterday but there was one noctuid in the light trap that was a new backyard species, Melanchra pulverulenta. Thanks to Gary Anweiler for confirming the ID. This morning there were 8 moths of 3 species in the light trap which included one new moth for the year, Papestra cristifera. There was also another Morrison's Pero. The rest were Vancouver darts (Agrotis vancouverensis) which are currently my most common backyard moth. Excluding flies and mosquitos, the bait trap continues to be empty…
Weather seems to be improving?Well, I guess that anyone who has been watching the news, as it relates to Alberta and the current flooding, will not be surprised that I haven’t had a light trap out for several days. We have been lucky and are not directly affected by the devastating Calgary floods. Our thoughts are with those who have been forced to evacuate their homes and here’s hoping they are all able to return soon. I am planning to put the moth trap out tonight, although, in light of the recent weather, I am not sure what to expect… Ian Weather stops play again…Well, it stopped me from putting out a light trap last night anyway. Yesterday, there were 11 moths of 5 species in the trap so the numbers were on the increase. However, there were no new species for the year. The list was as follows:
One thing that I’ve only just realised is that Papestra quadrata appears to be a new backyard moth. I saw at least one last year in the Waterton area but I do appear to have any records of this species for my backyard. That takes my backyard macro moth list to 260. No photographs so I’ve included a couple of non moth photographs taken during the last month or so.
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