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...