Immigrants or what...

Whilst I was down at Wilson Tract last week I caught a number of moths that I thought unusual for so early in the season. I pondered whether at least some of them may have been immigrants from further south that had wafted north with the nice weather at the time. A prime example is the noctuid moth above - Agrotis ipsilon, the Ipsilon Dart. A common moth throughout southern Ontario, I don't normally catch them until late May or early June. Many of the moths that we consider to be immigrants up here are of course very common not too far to the south in the States. The flight periods of these moths vary but tend to be earlier further south due to the earlier spring and milder overnight temperatures. For my UK readers, and I know you're out there (!) this is the moth known as Dark Swordgrass, a regular and sometimes common immigrant species from the near continent.


Another moth that I don't normally catch until much later in the spring is this one - Plathypena scabra, the Green Cloverworm Moth. I thought this one looked quite striking and unusual for the species; they are normally darker and not so well marked. Indeed, I did catch one individual that was nearer the norm but was very heavily worn. This species is usually much more common in the fall, when they can sometimes be kicked out of the grass by the bucket-load...


This nice-looking geometer is Orthonama obstipata, The Gem. This species is sexually dimorphic, this one being a male. It is well-known as an immigrant and resident species, with the immigrants showing up early in the season. I took the capture of three of this species to be some indication that I may be correct about the other moths being immigrants too.


Last, but by no means least, the distinctive micro Plutella xylostella, the Diamondback Moth. I was even catching these in Toronto at around the same time.

All this because I didn't catch anything last night - way too cool. Unfortunately the next few nights will be rubbish too, so you may have to put up with more second-hand ramblings from the MM...

More from the Old Yard...

A whopping six species in the trap last night! Nothing much of great note but there was a nice Crocigrapha normani Norman's Quaker (above) amongst the haul - species I don't catch here very often...


Otherwise, this Orthonama centrostrigaria Bent-line Carpet was the "star of the night" - and not a very bright one at that!

Uncooperative Moths...

There are times when the moths simply don't want to have their photos taken. I don't know why because I try to make it a painless and enjoyable experience for them. This morning I had all kinds of problems and when they just won't settle down drastic measures must be taken. Usually this takes the form of putting the moth in the fridge for a while. However, of occasion, this still doesn't work! These days, fed-up with having the moth fly into hyperspace before the id clinching photo can be taken, I ensure that I take a few photos whilst the little devil is still in the jar. Doesn't look great but is better than nowt.

The above Pseudaletia unipuncta Armyworm Moth did cooperate though. This is an easy moth to identify, basically the forewing is tan-colored with that tiny white spot in the middle and a faint, slanting apical dash. Is quite common, abundant at times, but I rarely catch them this early in the season.


Uncooperative moth number one was this Palmerworm Moth Dichomeris liguella. I do actually catch this one with some regularity. Quite easy to identify once you realize it's in the Dichomeridinae. Those long, narrow and sharply pointed wings are fairly characteristic.


This uncooperative moth was actually a new species for me - if I've identified it correctly that is. Obviously a tortrix in the genus Acleris I narrowed it down to one species Acleris maccana due to its large size (relatively speaking) and the sharply pointed apex, which is rather unusual within this large and complex genus.

Hmm. They don't look too good in jars do they...

Back Yard Ticks...

I love my back yard list - and I'm not ashamed to say so! We've been here, in the heart of Toronto, for nine years now and I've been running my trap for much of that time. Thus far I'm up to 530 species of moths - which I think is alright for a garden that is only 15 feet square!! There are a quite a variety of trees and shrubs in the gardens around us but there is nothing in the way of extensive natural vegetation. Therefore I am constantly surprised by what turns up in my trap. With the nice warm weather we've of late I've done quite well for new additions to the list - here are a few of them:

My very observant son James spotted this one sitting on the fence near the trap this morning - is a lovely Signate Melanolophia. Is not particularly uncommon but I don't catch them anywhere with any regularity - its sister species the Canadian Melanolophia is much more abundant in my mind.


This rather splendid geometer is a Tawny Pug. I've waited years to catch this one here, always knew I would, eventually! There are many moths that we call "Pugs" in the genus Eupithecia. Most of them are horrifically dull and hard to identify, but not this dazzler...


This rather fetching noctuid is a Reddish Speckled Dart. It has a short flight period in the springtime and is another moth that is easily missed if the weather is inclement, which it often is. I caught some more pristine examples at Wilson Tract a few days ago...but to put one of them up here would have been cheating!


Finally a micro - hooray! This is a totrix called Pseudexentera virginiana. It would have been completely new for me if only I hadn't caught one at Wilson Tract a few days ago! Damn that place...

Deep Wilson...

There is a nice song that goes by this title on an album called "The Grotto" by the superbly talented Kristin Hersh - nobody seems to know exactly what this means, myself included! Whatever, I use it to describe the fact that the Wilson Tract is in the deep south of Ontario! A rather tenuous connection but there you go.

Anyway, as promised, more moths from the deep end. The hairy guy above is Lintner's Gluphisia. This is pretty much the first prominent to be on the wing and is easy to miss completely if one doesn't get any warm nights during its brief flight period. Great colors on this chunky fellow - subtle, but tasteful...


The Ruby Quaker. Rather similar to other Orthosia Quakers but this one is a little more variegated on the forewing and the males have distinctive bipectinate (feathery) antenna.


The Bicolored Woodgrain. A cryptic devil if ever there was one. Is pretty common in the springtime but is always a welcome addition to any night's moth list


If ever a moth lived up to its name it is this one - the Dowdy Pinion! Apart from the rather streamlined shape (typical of many Pinions) this species is dramatically underwhelming...


This Nameless Pinion is a good example of the "other" more chunky kind of pinion. Same genus as the above Lithophane, but with an obviously different wing shape and manner of resting - broad wings, knobbly shoulders and a bit flatter-looking.

The Way of the Wilson...

I couldn't resist the offer of a lift down to my favorite mothing location down in the deep south of South Walsingham. So Saturday afternoon saw me whizzing down with Peter for what I hoped would be a couple of nights of exciting early spring mothing. I had only designed to stay one night...but it didn't quite work out that way! Stay flexible, that's my motto. Was no great hardship and I was well looked after by my gracious hosts.

The moths were indeed very good. I ended up with about 55 species, which ain't too shabby for mid April. I was delighted to see many species I hadn't seen for many years so I could at last obtain some decent photos. This has become a priority of late...but I'll tell about that some other time.

The above moth was my favorite - is the lovely Dogwood Thyatirid. There is a very similar moth in UK with the delightful name Peach Blossom.

Below are few more highlights. I'm going to be brief because there will be more...


The rather drab Goat Sallow. They are quite variable though and I caught one that was quite chestnutty...


The beautifully complex Metalepsis salicarum. I like this one - the pattern appeals to my sense of chaos!


There is something about green noctuids that pleases me immensely, but please don't ask why! This is the lovely Major Sallow. There are others in the same genus, Feralia, that are also green and this is perhaps the least well marked of the bunch. Still nice though innit...


Another wonderfully complex-looking creature, the aptly-named Figure-eight Sallow. The moth is named after the fused orbicular and claviform spots that form an "eight" shape. Is very hairy, which is fairly typical of many early spring fliers.


Another green moth - well, in parts anyway. The rather swish Grote's Sallow. Is a dark beauty with those stylish white tints and highlights. Is very streamlined in the manner of some of the Pinions...


Finally, for now, the best moth of the session, the spectacular Psaphida thaxterianus. I'm pretty sure this species is rather uncommon to rare in the province. Will do some research and let you know. Is a beauty though...

Will post a few more moths from this session tomorrow.

Hibernating goodies...

Hi again! I'm running about a week late so it's all going to be a bit confusing! I'll be posting the highlights from the last few nights of mothing - which have been very good due to the unusually warm weather we've been enjoying. Where I live all the maples are in flower already - is amazing.

Anyway, about a week ago Seabrooke Leckie and I ventured out the Leslie Spit for a couple of hours of gooping and light trapping. Was a bit chilly but we attracted a few moths including the above Lithophane antennata Ashen Pinion. This is a moth that has a brief flight period late in the fall, hibernates, and then flies again during the first warm nights of spring.


The moth above was something of a surprise. We jarred it thinking it was another Lithophane species in the darkness. However, upon looking at it in the light of day the following morning I was amazed to see that it was clearly a moth in the genus Ufeus. There are two members of this genus in Ontario, neither of which is particularly common. I catch the more regular of the two, Ufeus satyricus, up at the cottage - it has a more northerly distribution. This one though looked different so I sent out the photos for an expert opinion and was delighted to find out that my suspicions were correct and that this was the other, decidedly less common species, Ufeus plicatus. It is mostly a western species that has a few outposts in the east - add Leslie Spit to the list of eastern localities now! I guess it just goes to show. The Spit, with minimal coverage thus far, has turned up some interesting mothy surprises - what will be next?

The Season Begins...

Today was quite a good day. For starters there were moths in the trap! Good heavens above, whatever next. I'd run the old trap a couple of times but came up blank due to the nights being just a little on the chilly side. So to find four moths in the trap was pretty good. So why the photo (admittedly poor) of the Bohemian Waxwing? Well I needed it for my Toronto Island list. I had heard that there had been a few around so after dragging my heels a bit I finally got around to going. Things didn't start well! It was raining heavily when I emerged from the subway and I had to run for the ferry, making the crew put the gate down especially for me cuz they were about to pull out. Not sure why they were slightly angry at me? And then the ferry was going to Hanlan's and not Ward's meaning a good hour long walk to get to the BOWA spot. Was OK though and I had a pleasant enough trudge in intermittent rain across the island. Lots of common migrants had been grounded, mostly Juncos, Robins and Sapsuckers. I eventually found some BOWA, so all was well.

Below are the moths - has been a while...


I was well pleased with this one - Morrison's Sallow. When I took it out of the trap I thought there was something a little odd about it but in the dull light of dawn thought it to be just a common old Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth - see previous April posts. Luckily, I jarred it for later inspection when its true identity was revealed. Was a new moth for me you see! This species hibernates as an adult and flies again on the first warm nights of spring, and sometimes mid-winter. It was relatively fresh-looking considering it had been holed-up for a few months. The larva of this sallow feed on a variety of trees and plants, including cherries, elms, maples and oaks.


This rather nice geometer is another early spring job - the Small Phigalia. I had only caught this once before in the back yard so was nice to get another. A lot of the early flying species are only on the wing for a short period of time. The larval foodplant is principally American elm.


Micros are always a bit scarce this early in the season. However, there is one genus of tortrix that is only on the wing early on - the members of the Pseudexentera clan. This rather dull moth is P. cressoniana. It seems to be fairly common but I don't know too much about it.


And finally another tortrix in the genus Acleris. I haven't had time to really sort this one out yet, but I will let you know when I have because I know you simply cannot wait!

Is good to be back in the light...