Back yard mothing can be fun...

Every once in a while you take the lid off the trap and something special is waiting for you within. I recently caught the two moths featured below in such a fashion. Although neither are particularly uncommon I was most pleased to welcome them to the old yard list - which now speeds toward the magical 400 mark. No, I'm not sure just what is magical about 400 either - just sounds good!



Paonias myops or Small-eyed Sphinx. What a beauty! I've seen loads of these lovely moths but I'm always impressed by the brilliant swirl of tasteful colours on the forewing, what with those pumpkin highlights and all. The hindwing, which is mostly hidden, has a black and blue eye-spot on a yellow background. The larvae feed on birches, hawthorns, poplars, willows and Prunus species. The adults are on the wing mostly June to August in Ontario.


A bit drab and exceedingly hairy the Common Gluphisia, or Gluphisia septentrionis, is one of the more common and widespread members of the Prominent family in Ontario. There are about 50 species of Prominent in Ontario and over the years I've been lucky to see all but a couple of these wonderful moths. All are rather robust and quite hairy. Some are drab and cryptic whereas others are colourful and beautifully marked. The Common Gluphisia is on the wing most of the summer and the larvae feed on poplars.