Metallica rules...

Has been a little mundane in the trap of late. Not sure why because the overnight temperatures have been favourable. However, there have been a couple of highlights - see below.


Diachrysia balluca, known as the Metallic Looper Moth by some. This is the largest and most metallic-looking of the looper moths in our area. It is not particularly common but I catch one or two most years. The larvae feed on raspberry and the adults are on the wing from late June until mid-August, though most of my records are from mid-July.


Is a brilliant-looking creature with a fantastic green and purple lustre. This moth just glows and there is nothing else quite like it!


This is Calophasia lunula, or the Toadflax Brocade. It is an introduced European species. I'm not sure just how long it has been in Ontario but I seem to catch one or two most years in the Greater Toronto Area. It's a very distinctive-looking moth with nothing likely to be confused with it.


The larve feed on Common Toadflax (also non-native) which is a common roadside plant throughout Southern Ontario. The adults are winging it in July and early August.

Lines Galore...

Moths are all about lines, squiggly or straight. Lines help to break-up the outline of a moth when at rest so it blends in with its surroundings and thus avoids detection from potential predators. Below are a couple of lined species I've caught recently...


Leucania multilinea, the Many-lined Wainscot. A chunky noctuid with many look-alike cousins, this moth is fairly common, even in the big city. The larvae feed on grasses whilst the adult is flying throughout the summer months.


The totally brilliant Anticlea multiferata, the Many-lined Carpet. I rarely catch this one - it appears to be very local. The larvae feed on willow-herb, whereas the adult is on the wing mostly in June and July. This is one of my very favorite geometers, mostly because of all those lines...

Overnight moffs...

What with slightly cool nights there has been little of note in my back yard moth trap, just the familiar blog-standard regulars. However, those of you new to the mothing game would do well to learn these common moffs so when the odd stray does appear you'll know it! Words of wisedom from TMM...


Orthonama obstipata, The Gem. Very common, though numbers vary from year to year. The adults have a long flight season through several generations. The larvae are pretty general in their tastes. This one is a male.


Euxoa tessellata, the Tessellate Dart. Another very common species, though it is highly variable in appearance. This one is fairly standard though some are quite blackish-looking. The thing to look for on this noctuid is the golden tuft of scales at the base of the fore-wing. The adults fly mostly in July and early August and the larvae are generalists and can be a pest.


Euparthenos nubilis, the lovely Locust Underwing. Similar to many of the famous Catocala Underwings but with many wavy black bands on the orange hindwing - sadly not visible here. A wonderfully cryptic-looking moff. The larvae feed on locusts and the adults are on the wing most of the summer and fall.


Finally a nice-looking micro, the pyralid Pyrausta signatalis. Common, but always in low numbers. The larvae feed on mints and the pinky adults fly in mid-summer.