A few moths at last…

There were just 4 moths of 3 species in the light trap last night.  3 were Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) moths and one was a Gooseberry Stretchia (Stretchia muricina).  Gooseberry Stretchia is a medium sized noctuid that I usually see in spring.  The other photograph is of a Small Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia) that I found while walking around the Weaselhead area of Glenmore reservoir.

Recent Moths

Not much to report from the last week.  On the 30th April there were 6 Speckled Green Fruitworm moths (Orthosia hibisci) and 1 new backyard species for the year, a Western Swordgrass (Xylena thoracica).   Other than that, on the 1st May there were 7 Speckled Green Fruitworm moths, 1 Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass Moth (Xylena curvimacula) and 1 False Pinion Moth (Litholomia napaea) in the light trap.  The latter was also a new species for the year but a rather worn specimen.  Now waiting for the weather to improve…

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.

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.

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.

Spring…???

Well, with a wind-chill of close to –20º C this morning and more snow on the ground, spring still seems like a bit of a dream.  That said, I have had several large flocks of American Robins moving through the backyard and the forecast appears to be improving so maybe it won’t be too long before I get the first hibernator in the trap. 

With regards to 2013, I only recorded 165 macro moth species and very approximately 2253 individual moths.  This compared to 2012 when I recorded 201 species and 2778 individual moths.  I still have a reasonable number of unidentified moths from last year but even allowing for these and for some margin of error it is clear that the species and numbers were down for 2013.  It will be interesting to see what 2014 has in store…

I didn’t record many micro moths last year so thought I would post a photograph of the fairly common California Grass-veneer Moth (Euchromius californicalis).  This was taken on the 1st June 2013.  The forewing length is approximately 10mm.

A Late Moth and Butterfly record

I haven’t had much in my light trap for sometime but had a very nice looking moth last night which is a first for my Calgary backyard.  I believe it’s a Thaxter's Pinion Moth (Lithophane thaxteri).   In addition to this, last Friday, I decided to walk up Sulphur Mountain for some exercise and in search of bird and mammal photographic opportunities.  I wasn’t expecting to see any butterflies but just below the summit ridge walkway that leads to the Cosmic Ray Station, I was surprised to find a Milbert's Tortoiseshell flying around the rocks.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have a macro lens with me so had to take the attached with my 400mm lens. 

It’s always nice to get a few October records and the new moth perhaps justifies keeping the light trap out for a little longer...