Monday 12 August 2019

July-August SW Calgary backyard mothing update

My backyard moth numbers had, for the most part, been somewhat low compared to previous years but began to pick up towards the end of July and early August.  With the current period of wet weather the numbers are inevitably falling again.  Still, I have had some new backyard species including a few micro's and 4 macro moths.  The following are those which I have ID'd with a reasonable level of confidence.  Of course, I'm always open to other suggestions...

I'm quite pleased with the Narrow-winged Midget moth photograph as I was, for once, able to get quite a large image of this relatively small moth (forewing length  approx 13mm).  The image below is scaled down for the blog. This moth is one of the, so-called, Bird-dropping Moths.  A bird dropping mimic.

Another moth of interest for me was the Toadflax Brocade.  I understand that this moth was introduced into North America as a biocontrol agent for Toadflax (linaria spp.).  It has been noted a few times in Alberta but I wonder if an Alberta population is becoming more established now?  It was certainly the first time I have encountered this moth.

I hope you enjoy the photographs.

New backyard species:

1515 Shy Cosmet Moth (Limnaecia phragmitella)
6726 Obtuse Euchlaena (Euchlaena obtusaria)
9111 Narrow-winged Midget Moth (Tarache augustipennis)
9814.1 Cosmia elisae
10177 Toadflax Brocade Moth (Calophasia lunula)

Other species:

9385.1 Double Lobed Moth (Apamea ophiogramma)
9417 Neumogen's Quaker (Oligia egens)

1515 Shy Cosmet Moth (Limnaecia phragmitella)

6726 Obtuse Euchlaena (Euchlaena obtusaria)

9111 Narrow-winged Midget Moth (Tarache augustipennis)
10177 Toadflax Brocade Moth (Calophasia lunula)
9814.1 – Cosmia elisae

9385.1 Double Lobed Moth (Apamea ophiogramma)

9417 Neumogen's Quaker (Oligia egens)



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