September Warmth...

It was with some sense of anticipation and not a little excitement that MK and I motored down into the steamy depths of southern Ontario. Lured yet again by the promise of the unknown. The forecast proclaimed a low of 19 degrees, but it felt warmer - perfect! Maybe some immigrant moths were on the cards...

We walked the lines of flowers on our gracious hosts' property but came away empty handed. The flowers usually offer a few clues as to what may happen overnight - as far as immigrant species go anyhow, but there were none to be had. Oh well, it would have to be September residents then.

After setting up four traps, a couple of sheets and getting through a jar of goop on the local trees we headed towards the lakeshore along Hastings Drive, which is just the other side of the causeway before one gets to Long Point. Goop was plastered and a sheet was set up illuminated with the eerie glow of two blacklights. The locals had obviously not seen anything quite like it - but will again I can assure you!! With open water on one side and extensive marsh on the other it seemed like an interesting coastal location. It was slow at first but before long a few moths arrived, mostly on the goop. By far the nicest moth , and one I predicted I may add, was the lovely looper above. Is Plusia venusta, the White-streaked Looper Moth. I'd only seen it once before so was well chuffed! It's a subtle beauty that looks like it has been fashioned out of the sort of metallic foils one might wrap a birthday present in. Pretty much restricted to wetlands the larva feed on sedges and grasses whilst the adults fly from June to September. It appears to be somewhat local in Ontario.


A bigger surprise was the appearance of three Trachea delicata. Again, I'd seen this species just once, on Pelee Island some years ago. It was nice to have the opportunity to take a good series of photos. Is a terrific moth what with the mossy green highlights and all. I'd long thought this species should be here but thought the timing was too late - well, there's lots to learn I guess. All were fresh. We later found one in one of the traps at Mary's place. At the time of writing I'm not sure of the larval hosts, but will find out and update.


A snouty devil that should, and indeed was, around the marsh was the chunky Archanara oblonga, the Oblong Sedge Borer Moth. A bit of a September speciality (though sometimes earlier), this moth always seems a bit scarce, though I have recorded it at a few sites over the years. The larvae feed on cattails and bulrushes.


Another moth that was predicted to be on the lakeshore was Abagrotis orbis, above. There were a few of them, mostly on the goop. There are only a handful of sites in Ontario for this dune specialist so it was pleasing to add it to the Long Point list, not that there is an official list...