Goop Galore...

All this happened over a week ago - appologies for the lateness of the post! Mike King and I decided, mostly as an 11th hour last-ditch attempt to catch some migrants, to goop a few trees at the base of Leslie Street Spit this evening. We also set up a blacklight and a sheet. The weather was amazingly warm, like July or August, with a sultry southerly breeze wafting in from the lake. The stage was set for something to be sure...

It took a while and it was pretty slow at first, but the moths did start to appear. There were lots of Fall and Yellow-striped Armyworm Moths on the goop, as well as a few regular species. However, the sheet was pretty bare, apart from the 25 Yellow-collared Scape Moths crawling all over it. Anyway, we were thinking of packing it in when I jarred the moth above - the incredibly rare Yellow Scallop Moth! I'd only seen this once before - about 10 years ago in October down at Long Point - also on goop. To be precise, the moth cannot be 100% identified without a specimen because there is another possible species which is very similar. I didn't want to collect it so will wait until someone comes up with a field mark to separate the two!


Another great moth scooped from a gooped tree was this Orbed Narrow-wing. Another great rarity in Ontario we were well pleased with our second of the season. Is an unusual-looking creature, what with those long wings and big eyes. Very well adapted to flying long distances.


Perhaps the prettiest moth of the night was this immaculate Lost Sallow. I'd not seen this species before so was amazed by it's fantastic peppery appearance. Who says moths are dull?