Some moths at last…Given the recent low moth numbers, I wasn’t very optimistic when I looked in the light trap this morning but was pleasantly surprised when I found 5 macro moths of 5 species and 2 micro moths of 2 species. I haven’t identified the micros yet but there was a nice geometrid that I haven’t seen before, an American Barred Umber Moth (Plagodis pulveraria). There was also a White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) but I haven’t included a photograph as it was a little damaged. Still, it is good to know that some Sphinx moths are in the neighbourhood… With the new moth my backyard macro moth list is now 259 species. However, to date, the 2013 backyard species list is just 32.
Backyard mothing still very poorI spent the weekend in Lethbridge but due to storm warnings on Friday night I didn’t put the light trap out. Of course, as it turned out, the weather was fine As there are so few moths about I’ve added a photograph of a Black-crowned Night-Heron from the weekend. It was taken at Pakowki Lake in southern Alberta.
Five macro moths of five speciesIt’s still slow for June but there were five species of macro moths in the light trap last night. The new species were American Angle Shades (Euplexia benesimilis) and a species that I haven’t seen before, a Straight-lined Plagodis Moth (Plagodis phlogosaria). There was some wear on the right forewing of the Plagodis moth but it is a very colourful species. Would like to get another one of these. I’m in Lethbridge this weekend and there is a storm watch in effect until after midnight so it’s doubtful that I will have a light trap out tonight. Hoping for better weather tomorrow.
Just two mothsJust two moths in the light trap last night. A Garden Arches (Lacanobia radix) and a Ruddy Quaker (Protorthodes oviduca). The latter being a new backyard moth for the year. After another warm day I’d expect more moths in the trap tomorrow but who can tell… I photographed the Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) while birding the Brown-Lowery Provincial Park which is a little west of Calgary.
The HeraldThere were only 3 moths in the trap last night. There was a new backyard moth, a new species for the year and a worn Noctuid that I haven’t identified yet. The new backyard moth was a Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix). I’ve been hoping add this moth to my backyard list since I saw one in the Okanagan a number of years ago. The new species for the year was a Morrison's Pero (Pero morrisonaria). Unfortunately, the Herald moth was a little damaged.
|
