Monday, May 01, 2006

Lepping in the deep south...

Yesterday we all travelled down to South Walsingham and the home of Mary Gartshore and Peter Carson with the aim of buying a few plants and (me) looking for some early flying moths. Was a glorious day though was a little on the cloudy and windy side at times. Whilst KT, Sally and Elden checked out the greenhouses James and I took the net for a walk. Was generally a bit quiet at first but, amazingly, the very first butterfly we saw was a pristine Gray Hairstreak - the earliest I've ever seen! Presumably it hatched locally?

However, what I really wanted to see was a smart dayflying moth called the Grapevine Epimenis. I'd only seen it once before and needed to photograph it. Anyway, whilst photographing the Hairstreak I noticed one fly by...but too fast for me and I couldn't net it in spite of a long chase. Oh well. But, as luck would have it, I spotted another one a couple of hours later fluttering up against one of the greenhouses being buffeted by the wind. Aha, no escape this time and the moth was safely trousered, lightly chilled and then photographed. Unfortunately the results were not great since I'd neglected to bring along the plate so I could attach the camera to the tripod. Hand-help shots at one eighth of a second are not recommended!

Whatever, I hope you like the pix. The prairie was full of bird sound with lots of Chipping, Vesper and Field Sparrows singing. The woods held Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrows and Eastern Towhees.


A wonderfully fresh Gray Hairstreak at Wilson Tract. Unusual amongst Hairstreaks this species habitually sits with it's wings open rather than tightly shut over it's back. It is very dark-looking with those obvious red spots on the hindwings.


The sharply-marked underside of the Gray Hairstreak.


The lovely Grapevine Epimenis, netted, photographed and released at Mary and Peter's home near South Walsingham. This very distinctive dayflying noctuid is rather local in southern Ontario and has a very short flight period in late April and early May and is easy to miss if a special effort is not made. The larvae feed on grapes. Note the large orange-red patch on the hindwings. In flight the moth is often mistaken for a butterfly due to it's colourful appearance.


The forewing of Psychomorpha epimenis displays a rich bluish metallic lustre which clashes rather nicely with the snowy white patch near the trailing edge. A very special moth indeed...

8 Comments:

Blogger Mary deB said...

Oooh, aaaaah.

6:50 AM  
Blogger themothman said...

Indeed...

7:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I say briefly: Best! Useful information. Good job guys.
»

12:28 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

polo ralph lauren, prada outlet, oakley vault, christian louboutin shoes, cheap oakley sunglasses, tory burch outlet online, true religion, michael kors outlet, coach outlet, prada handbags, michael kors outlet online, chanel handbags, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, gucci handbags, burberry outlet online, kate spade outlet, michael kors outlet online, coach outlet store online, michael kors handbags, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, longchamp outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet store, louis vuitton, nike air max, longchamp outlet, red bottom shoes, true religion outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, jordan shoes, michael kors outlet online, nike outlet, ray ban outlet, christian louboutin, nike free, nike air max, burberry outlet online, kate spade outlet online, louis vuitton outlet, coach outlet, longchamp handbags, louis vuitton handbags, coach purses, christian louboutin outlet

6:13 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

babyliss, new balance outlet, replica watches, vans outlet, mcm handbags, celine handbags, beats headphones, nike trainers, nfl jerseys, giuseppe zanotti, jimmy choo shoes, ugg boots, birkin bag, asics shoes, canada goose outlet, ferragamo shoes, insanity workout, nike huarache, chi flat iron, hollister, abercrombie and fitch, uggs outlet, north face jackets, north face jackets, mac cosmetics, soccer jerseys, canada goose outlet, uggs outlet, uggs on sale, bottega veneta, instyler ionic styler, ugg boots clearance, nike roshe, valentino shoes, lululemon outlet, ugg, marc jacobs outlet, ugg outlet, longchamp, ghd, reebok shoes, ugg soldes, p90x workout, soccer shoes, wedding dresses, mont blanc pens, herve leger, canada goose outlet, canada goose

6:17 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

moncler, gucci, ugg, wedding dress, air max, ray ban, toms outlet, timberland shoes, moncler, swarovski jewelry, converse, pandora charms, canada goose, vans, pandora jewelry, karen millen, montre femme, thomas sabo uk, replica watches, moncler, louis vuitton canada, juicy couture outlet, parajumpers outlet, moncler outlet, pandora uk, links of london uk, moncler, ralph lauren, hollister clothing, hollister canada, moncler, nike air max, juicy couture outlet, moncler outlet, canada goose, supra shoes, louboutin, baseball bats, lancel, iphone 6 case, coach outlet, hollister, canada goose, uggs canada, oakley, converse shoes, swarovski uk, canada goose pas cher

6:19 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

abercrombie and fitch
winter jackets
nike air max
michael kors wallet sale
longchamp handbags
true religion canada
oakley sunglasses
air max shoes
lebron shoes
timberland shoes
beats by dre
michael kors uk outlet
black friday deals
ed hardy clothing
kobe shoes
links of london jewellery
giuseppe zanotti outlet
longchamp handbags
michael kors factory online
tiffany outlet
1209minko

6:50 PM  
Blogger Fangyaya said...

ghd flat iron
jordan 8
louis vuitton
nike air max
jordans
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory outlet
gucci outlet
lebron james shoes
michael kors outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
kate spade handbags
christian louboutin
louis vuitton outlet
adidas originals
christian louboutin outlet
tory burch sale
louis vuitton outlet
adidas shoes
polo ralph shirts
longchamp outlet
adidas superstar
celine handbags
christian louboutin sale
giuseppe zanotti sneakers
jordan 3 infrared
nike basketball shoes
coach outlet
ralph lauren outlet
kate spade
true religion outlet
true religion outlet
timberland boots
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton handbags
jordan retro
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton outlet
replica watches
20167.27chenjinyan

10:17 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home