There were 61 macro moths of  23 species in the light and bait traps last night.  2 species were new for the year,  Two-spot Dart (Protolampra rufipectus) and Sharp-lined Yellow (Sicya macularia) and 1 was new for the backyard, Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata).  I have seen Scallop Shell in the UK but hadn't realised it was a North American species.  Incidentally, other common names for Sicya macularia are Pink-bordered Yellow or Two-pronged Looper so you can take your pick :).  I also recorded a rather large Pyralid, Large Tabby Moth (Aglossa pinguinalis).

Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata)

Two-spot Dart (Protolampra rufipectus)

Sharp-lined Yellow (Sicya macularia)

Sharp-lined Yellow (Sicya macularia)

Large Tabby Moth (Aglossa pinguinalis)

It was another good night and I have now exceeded last year's number of backyard macro species at 150!  The bait trap continues to pay dividends with a new Underwing, Semirelict Underwing Moth (Catocala semirelicta).  Thanks to Gary Anweiler for identifying this species.  I initially thought it was Catocala meskei but the habitat is wrong and after closer inspection the wing pattern is more like semirelicta.  It seems that Underwings have been appearing somewhat earlier this year continuing the unusual nature of some Lepidoptera sightings in Alberta.  There were 81 moths of 25 species in the traps plus 2 noctuids that I haven't confidently id'd yet.  Including the Semirelict Underwing, there were 2 new backyard species last night, the other new moth being a nice Geometrid, Zenophleps alpinata. There was also one new backyard species for the year, Euxoa ochrogaster.  I'm including photographs of a Great Gray Dart (Eurois occulta), as this was the first one I've had this year that was undamaged and another Olive Arches (Lacinipolia olivacea) that shows some interesting rosy hues  The normal form of Olive Arches I see in my backyard has green hues.

Semirelict Underwing Moth (Catocala semirelicta)

Semirelict Underwing Moth (Catocala semirelicta)

Zenophleps alpinata

Great Gray Dart (Eurois occulta)

Euxoa ochrogaster

Olive Arches (Lacinipolia olivacea)

I staged a very small backyard moth evening last night as my contribution to National Moth Week.  Actually, there were just four of us. Unfortunately, the temperature dropped quite quickly so there were not a great number of moths. In fact, I only recorded 30 moths of  15 species but we did see 2 new backyard species for the year, Pointed-winged Wave (Scopula ancellata) and American Ear Moth (Amphipoea americana).  In addition to this I found two mating Police Car Moths (Gnophaela vermiculata) in the grass a few hours before sunset.  We've seen Police car moths in our backyard before but they have never settled so this was a nice surprise.  I've included a photograph of a Satyr Comma that turned up in my bait trap this afternoon.  Not quite as exciting as the Question mark, which apparently was only the second confirmed sighting for Alberta but nice to see that the bait trap is working.

American Ear Moth (Amphipoea americana)

Police Car Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)



Pointed-winged Wave (Scopula ancellata)

Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)

Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)