On VacationJust a quick note to say that I will be away in British Columbia for 10 days so there probably won’t be any blog updates for a couple of weeks . It’s primarily a birding vacation but hopefully I will have one or two BC moths to report on when I get back. Incidentally, with the overnight storms etc., the last few days have been a little quiet, although, I did get one new backyard moth species. More on this later. All the best and good mothing, Ian Two of my favourite mothsThe moth numbers continue to increase with 31 macro moths of 20 species last night. There were 7 new backyard moths for the year as follows: Clandestine Dart (Spaelotis clandestina) I have to say that Anarta farnhami and Putnam's Looper Moth (Plusia putnami) are two of my favourite noctuids. I find the intricate patterns and subtle colours of Anarta farnhami quite amazing.
The highest moth numbers so far…I managed to pick 19 macro moths of 16 species out of the light trap this morning. Mainly because of the high early morning temperatures a few moths flew out as soon as I lifted the lid and some others escaped from my egg boxes as I examined them. Still, I did identify 5 new species for the year which included 2 new species for the backyard, a “Variable Tussock Moth” (Dasychira vagans) which, unfortunately, was a little worn and “The Vestal” (Cabera variolaria). The other new species for the year were: The Canary Thorn (Neoterpes trianguliferata)
A few good mothsYesterday, there were 9 macro moths of 7 species in the light and bait traps with 2 new moths for the year, Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) and Pale beauty (Campaea perlata). Today there were 10 macro moths of 8 species. One I haven’t identified but 5 were new species for the year and 1 of the 5 was a completely new species for me. The new species was a Rubida Looper Moth (Autographa rubidus). Thanks to Gary Anweiler for confirming the ID. The other 4 new species for the year were: Barred Yellow (Eulithis propulsata) The Unicorn caterpillar moth is one of my favourites and the image is the result of “focus stacking” 5 photographs. I didn’t manage photographs of all of the new species but will hopefully add some of them to a future blog.
A funny day for moths and Weaselhead area recovery?I say funny because it started off quite poorly and ended up with a moth that I’ve only seen once before in 2009 and another new species for the year that, although, strictly speaking is not a backyard moth, was picked up not far from where I live. They day started with 5 moths of 2 species in the light trap. 4 of them being Vancouver Darts (Agrotis vancouverensis) and the other a Ruddy Quaker (Protorthodes oviduca). Nothing new there. The bait trap appeared to be empty. I then decide to risk a trip to the Weaselhead area of Glenmore reservoir to see what state it was in after the floods. It wasn’t too bad but still very muddy and not unsurprisingly, there were clouds of mosquitoes that you could cut with a knife. Ok, that’s a slight exaggeration but they were out in numbers in certain areas. It was reassuring to know that at least one Calliope Hummingbird was still around and that the Cliff Swallows were re-building their nests under the main bridge to the southern part of the Weaselhead area. However, there was no sigh of the Eastern Phoebe’s that had been nesting under the smaller wooden bridge. Sadly, I’m certain that these are not the only nesting casualties. I did manage a few quick shots of a White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) and a Common Alpine (Erebia epipsodea) before I gave in to the mud and mosquitoes and beat a hasty retreat. After getting home and washing off many layers of mosquito repellent, I checked the bait trap and was pleased find a Nevada Arches (Lacanobia nevadae). This was the moth that I’ve recorded only once before on May 31st 2009. I thought that was pretty much it for day and had just put my camera equipment away when my wife returned with a Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) in a soap box. I consider myself very lucky to have a wife that would not only spot a moth while walking to the local shops but would actually buy a container to capture it in and the bring it back!! It turned out to be a very good and unexpected photographic opportunity. So many thanks to Jenny
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