More new backyard moth species

The moth numbers jumped last night with 47 macro moths of 14 species.  There were another 2 new species which included a very nice Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella).  I have seen this moth in the Okanagan but it was certainly a welcome new backyard species.  The other new moth was a Praevia Dart Moth (Xestia praevia).  The latter  was on the house siding across from the trap and I almost missed it.  Other species recorded this morning were:

The Vestal (Cabera variolaria)
Brown Bark Carpet Moth (Horisme intestinata)
Miranda Moth (Proxenus miranda)
Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera)
Pink-barred Lithacodia (Pseudeustrotia carneola)
Impressed Dagger Moth (Acronicta impressa)
Neighbourly Arches (Lacinipolia vicina)
Wheat Head Armyworm (Dargida diffusa)
Lesser Wainscot (Mythimna oxygala)
Ruddy Quaker Moth (Protorthodes oviduca)
Vancouver Dart (Agrotis vancouverensis)
Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)

Post for Tues 9th June–More new backyard species

There were 13 macro moths of 7 species in the Light trap yesterday morning.  This included 2 new species.  The new species were Pale-marked Angle Moth (Macaria signaria) and Orthodes obscura.  Other species included:

Brown Bark Carpet Moth (Horisme intestinata)
Gray dagger (Acronicta grisea)
Lesser Wainscot (Mythimna oxygala)
Vancouver Dart (Agrotis vancouverensis)
Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)

New Backyard Moth Species

There were 11 moths of 6 species in the light trap this morning and 2 were new backyard species.  A Gray Spruce Looper Moth (Caripeta divisata) was a completely new species for me while a Sigmoid Prominent Moth (Clostera albosigma) was a new species for my backyard.  The image of the Sigmoid Prominent was taken in the Waterton area as I failed to get a good photograph of this moth this morning.

Moths number increasing

I haven’t had the backyard light trap out a great deal recently but last night there were 12 moths of 7 species.  They included an Atlantic Arches Moth (Lacanobia atlantica) which I believe is only the second time I have recorded this species.

In spite of some warm weather, May was a very quite month for moths but I have included a smart looking Anarta farnhami which was in the trap on the 28th.  The Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera) and what I believe is an Alien Probole (Probole alienaria) were recorded on the 6th June.

The moth numbers are definitely on the rise.

April 22nd

Last night there was one new species for the year and 6 Speckled Green Fruitworms (Orthosia hibisci).  The new species was an Orthosia segregata (no common name that I can find).  This is an expected moth species for this time of the year.  Nothing in the bait trap yet apart from a good number of flies…

Some different moths at last…

There were a couple of new backyard moths for the year in the light trap this morning.  One was a Thaxter's Pinion Moth (Lithophane thaxteri).  This was a good record as I have only seen this moth once before on the 22nd Oct 2013.  The other new species for the year was an Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica).  This was my earliest record for this moth by a few days.  Of course, there were also the inevitable Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) moths.  8 in total.  I have the bait trap out as well now so we’ll see what that attracts.

April 16th Moth

Not many moths in backyard at the moment.  Just 1 Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) in the light trap this morning.  If the wind drops I’m hoping for more tonight.

The Olive Green Cutworm (Dargida procincta) below was taken on October 21st last year and was one of my latest moth records.  I thought I’d add this migrant American Wigeon photograph , taken yesterday, for some colour.  The bird migration is underway…