Ear to the ground...

Another night with not a lot going on. Still, a few year ticks for the garden trap. The above tortrix is Eucosma derelecta. It is quite common in late July and August and I think is pretty much an annual visitor to the garden


The genus Caloptilia is a very distinctive one. The moths are pencil-shaped and very small, some amazingly so! They have a very characteristic resting pose with the long front legs taking all the weight of these tiny sprites. They can be tough to identify but I'm pretty sure this one is Caloptilia blandella. The larvae are leaf miners, but I'm not sure at this time on what.


I like this moth. It is Amphipoea americana, the American Ear Moth. Another common species that is on the wing in late July and August. It comes to light and also to goop slathered on tree trunks. It is quite variable with some individuals sporting gleaming white reniform spots. All are this nice shade of orange overlaid with the darker "net rigging" effect - very tasteful I'd say, though this one is slightly worn. The larvae feed on grasses and sedges.