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| Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) |
I had my second backyard moth of the year yesterday. It was another (or perhaps the same) Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula). However, while searching for wildlife to photograph at Glenmore reservoir I found a moth that I have not seen before. It was “The Infant” Archiearis infans. Apparently, this is a non-hibernating day flying moth that is often seen before the snow has completely melted. Unfortunately, the image quality is not great as I did not have a macro lens with me (should have known better) so I had to take the photographs with my 100-400 telephoto zoom… Either way, great to finally get a second moth species for the year!
While at Glenmore I also had some very close views of a Red-breasted Merganser.
The weather remains poor with freezing drizzle this morning so I’ve been reduced to going through some of last years non moth photographs. Perhaps not a bad thing as I found these previously overlooked images…
Unfortunately, poor weather has stopped me from putting the moth trap out since my first macro moth of the year on the 1st of April.
I have just completed updating the moth photographs on my flickr website which is located at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ipmcanada/sets/72157625839443694/
This set consists of 550 photographs covering approximately 303 species of Alberta moths. With regards to the image quality, I learn a little each year and I am hoping to produce some improved photographs in 2013. Weather permitting of course 
Finally, we’ve had a few evenings where the temperature has remained above freezing. It’s still dipping below freezing after a few hours but it was warm enough for a single macro moth to find its way into my light trap. This is the same species reported as an early moth by several others in Alberta.
