Three moths, a dragonfly and a butterfly of the OkanaganI didn’t put the light trap out last night so there is not much to report on today. There were 2 moths in the bait trap but nothing new for the year. As it turned out the storms did not materialize but putting the light trap out seems to be a bit of lottery at the moment. However, I am planning to put the light trap out tonight. As I have no local moths to report on I thought I would show a few photographs that were taken in the Southern Okanagan a couple of weeks ago. With regards to the moth that I have identified as Digrammia subminiata it could be a Decorated Granite Moth (Digrammia decorata) but I am leaning towards subminiata because of the overall ground colour and the slight orange tinges on the forewing. That’s just a best guess though. There were several Monarch butterflies hanging around and apparently, fighting over the Buddleia in the backyard of the B&B that we stayed in. The Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) was photographed along the Vaseux lake boardwalk. Petrophila kearfottalis is quite an attractive looking Crambid moth with a wingspan of approximately 21mm. The Isabella Tiger Moth was another new species for me.
Blog entry for the 22nd July – Stormy Weather!It hasn’t been a great start to the National Moth Week in SW Calgary. Thunderstorms prevented me from putting the light trap out last night and even caused me to retrieve my bait trap! The weather prospects for tonight do not look great either, although, I do plan to put the bait trap out. There were 35 macro moths of 20 species in the light and bait traps on the 22nd July. 6 where new for the year and included 1 new backyard species, a Sordid Wainscot (Hypocoena inquinata). This is a small moth with stubby wings. Due to the lack of photographs I’ve included 3 pictures of moths that I took on my recent vacation to British Columbia. Two of these illustrate different forms of the Brother Moth (Raphia frater). I think these were, until fairly recently, treated as separate species but DNA analysis supports the view that they are, in fact, a single species. The other Okanagan Noctuid is the Zebra Caterpillar Moth (Melanchra picta). I like the markings on this moth which to me looks quite exotic. It is certainly a new species for me. The following were the new backyard species for the 22nd. Horisme incana (Horisme incana)
Blog entries for the 18th and 19th of JulyThe 18th of July saw 37 moths of 15 species in the light and bait traps. There were 2 new species for the year, a Purple Arches (Polia purpurissata) and the return of the Glassy Cutworms. Glassy Cutworm moths are normally one of my most common backyard moths. The 19th of July was another good moth night with 54 moths of 22 species, including a couple of macro moths that I haven’t identified yet. There were 5 new species for the year: Hooked Silver Y (Syngrapha alias)
A bumper moth day! (blog entry for the 17th July)There were at least 85 macro moths of 27 species in the light trap on the 17th. 37 of these were “Thoughtful Apamea” moths ( Apamea cogitata) which are, by far, my most common backyard moth at this time of the year. There was one new backyard species, a Rannoch Looper (Speranza brunneata). Unfortunately, I only managed a single photograph of this moth before it flew off. |
The new species for the year were: Idia concisa near aemula - Currently an undescribed species
The July rush (blog entry for the 16th July)Well, I’m home again after a nice (excluding the mosquitoes. What do they feed on when there isn't a backyard mother around!) 9 day vacation in the Okanagan and Vancouver. I did photograph a few BC moths but have returned to a peak mothing time of the year. It’s a difficult period to keep up with the moths at the best of times but I normally get eased into it I have had the trap out for a few days and I am now playing catch up with all of the new species for the year. On the 16th there were 32 macro moths of 13 species with 9 new species for the year. I understand that the only way to confidently tell a Crocus Geometer from a False Crocus Geometer Moth (Xanthotype urticaria) is by dissection so my Crocus Geometer ID is just a guess. It’s always nice to get a Tiger moth. The new species were: Crocus Geometer (Xanthotype sospeta)
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