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.