Gooping on the Spit...

A few days ago I was invited to help out with a moth night here in Toronto on the Leslie Street Spit. The night was hosted by members of the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS), which is run by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Also present were some of the keener "moth people" from the Toronto Entomologists Association. I set up a blacklight and a mercury vapor bulb in front of sheets and slathered my favorite "goop" on several likely-looking trees in the vicinity. After a while Seabrooke Leckie from TTPBRS set up her blacklight too. I have to say that the whole event was a great success and we caught and identified 55 species in a couple of hours - which is not too bad for this time of the year.

The highlight, for me, was the rather drab moth featured above - Abagrotis orbis. This is a very local species in Ontario, where it favors lakeshore dune habitats. There are previous records from Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Normandale and Port Franks. I also know of two other records from Toronto - one of which was in my back yard a couple of years back. So, perhaps not too surprising that it should occur here.


Another nice find was Oligia obtusa - the Obtuse Brocade for want of a better name. I'd only seen this moth twice before so to attract three on this evening was great.


Puta Sallow. All the individuals we attracted on this occasion (about 3-4) were rather pale. The markings where all there (note the dark "W" across the wings) and the size was right but I was confused at first since all the others I'd caught in previous years were a little darker and more variegated than these.


The diminuative tortrix Phaneta raracana. I'd only seen this once before and badly needed better pix!


The pyralid Apomyelois bistriatella. My only new moth of the night - hey, I'll take it!!


Lastly, the lovely late-flying tortrix Eucosma dorsisignatana. I catch this just about every year at a variety of locations. Love the snouty aspect and all those fine vermiculations...

I would like to thank Dan Derbyshire, Seabrooke Leckie, Ian Sturdee, Carolyn King and Steve Laforest for all their help in making this event a great success. I do believe we may have a few moth converts here - here's to the next one...