Blog entry for 15th-21st July

The moth numbers during this period have continued to be quite high, although, probably no higher than in other years. On average there have been approx. 24 species of 100+ macro moths.

Two notable records were a Southern Quaker (Apamea impulsa), which I’ve only recorded once before in 2008 and my second record of a Green-patched Looper Moth (Diachrysia balluca).  The latter moth, probably because of the iridescent green patch that changes colour as it reflects the light, is also know as a Hologram moth.  Unfortunately, the Green-patched Looper (Hologram Moth) was a little worn but still a nice looking moth. 

From the 15th-21st there were 22 new backyard species for the year:

Pink-bordered Yellow (Two-pronged Looper) (Sicya macularia)
Single-lined Emerald (Nemoria unitaria)
Northwestern Phoenix Moth (Eulithis xylina)
Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata)
Dark-spotted Looper (Diachrysia aereoides)
Green-patched Looper Moth (Diachrysia balluca)
Southern Quaker (Apamea impulsa)
Apamea scoparia
Lined Quaker (Apamea inficita)
Double Lobed (Apamea ophiogramma)
American Ear Moth (Amphipoea americana)
Smoked Sallow (Enargia infumata)
Hyppa contrasta
Polia Moth (Polia piniae)
Purple Arches (Polia purpurissata)
Anhimella contrahens
Dingy Cutworm (Feltia jaculifera)
Master's Dart (Feltia herilis)
Euxoa comosa
Western brown Dart (Euxoa basalis)
Great Gray Dart (Great Brochade) (Eurois occulta)
Smith's Dart (Xestia smithii)

Blog for 8th, 9th and 10th July

There were 89 macro moths of 18 species on the 8th July, 87 of 28 on the 9th and 128 of 23 on the 10th.  As can be seen the numbers are quite high which is to be expected during this warm and fairly dry spell.

During this period there were 7 new species for the year.  1 of these was a new moth for my backyard, a Brown-lined Sallow Moth (Sympistis badistriga).  The other new species for the year were:

Johnson's Euchlaena (Euchlaena johnsonaria)
Pale beauty (Campaea perlata)
Parthenice Tiger Moth (Grammia parthenice)
Canadian Fan-foot (Zanclognatha lutalba)
Wavy Chestnut Y (Autographa mappa)
Anhimella contrahens

It’s always nice to get your first tiger moth of the year and the Wavy Chestnut Y (Autographa mappa) is certainly a colourful species.

Blog entry for 6th July

There were 65 macro moths of 19 species on the 6th.  4 were new for the year:

Split-lined Angle Moth (Speranza bitactata)
Neoligia subjuncta
Stormy Arches (Polia nimbosa)
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

Blog entry for 3rd July

This was the best night of the year so far with 107 macro moths of 27 species in the light trap.  5 of these were new for the year and 1 was a macro moth that I haven’t recorded before, a Northern Pine Tussock Moth (Dasychira plagiata).  I haven’t seen many Tussock moths so this was a very nice addition to the list.  The other new moths for the year were:

The Scribe (Lettered Habrosyne) (Habrosyne scripta)
Little White Lichen Moth (Clemensia albata)
Brown-streaked Rustic (Hypocoena rufostrigata)
Disparaged Arches (Orthodes detracta)
Trichordestra dodii

Blog entry for 2nd July

Due to the weather, my light trap has only been out intermittently over the last week or so.  I did have 64 macro moths of 24 species on the 2nd with 3 new species for the year.

False Bruce Spanworm (Speranza loricaria)
White-banded Toothed Carpet (Euphyia intermediata)
Rusty Holomelina (Virbia ferruginosa)

It’s always nice to be able photograph a couple of Geometrids as they tend to be a lot more active than the Noctuids.  This was only my second record of the Rusty Holomelina (Virbia ferruginosa), although, I think I could quite easily overlook this small moth.  The Garden Arches (Lacanobia radix) is a common backyard moth.

Blog entry for 28th and 29th June

I’m a little behind with my blog entries so I will be combining a few.  The moth numbers have exploded during the recent hot spell of weather.  On the 28th there were approximately 20 species of 95 macro moths in the light trap and on the 29th there were 31 species of 119 macro moths.  Over the 2 days there were 59 Bristly Cutworm Moths (Lacinipolia renigera), which continues to be my most numerous backyard moth and 2 new species.  The new species were a Two-spot Dart Moth (Eueretagrotis perattentus) and a nice looking geometrid, a White-ribboned Carpet Moth (Mesoleuca ruficillata).

The other photographs are a Ruby Dart (Xestia oblata), which in my opinion is one of the most colourful noctuids and a Morrison's Sooty Dart (Pseudohermonassa tenuicula) which is quite common but sometimes tricky to photograph.