Wednesday 23 April 2014

Variations of the Speckled Green Fruitworm moth

Due to the weather I haven’t had the light trap out much recently.  However, on the 22nd April there were 9 Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) moths in the trap.  The following are stacked images (two more images using different focus points combined) and show three variations of this moth.

Untitled_Panorama1Untitled_Panorama2Untitled_Panorama3

Friday 11 April 2014

Two more hibernators

Because of strong winds I haven’t had the light trap out for a couple of nights but l did put it out last night and was rewarded with two Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula) moths.  The Least Chipmunk was seen at Glenmore reservoir.

Untitled_Panorama800

IMG_5466A

Tuesday 8 April 2014

At last! The first backyard macro moth of 2014…

I put my light trap out last night for only the second time this year and there were two moths in the trap this morning.  Not unsurprisingly, the macro moth was a Large Grey Pinion (Lithophane georgii) which a hibernator and one of the more common Lithophanes.  The other was a micro moth which is probably an Acleris sp.  I also saw my first butterflies of the year yesterday at a local Calgary park.  A Milbert's Tortoiseshell and  two Mourning Cloaks.  Both of these butterflies overwinter so it is not surprising that these are often the first to be seen in spring.  It’s another warm day today so depending on the wind I should have the light trap out again tonight.

IMG_59458k