Those Night-time Creatures Again!

 This week, July 23-31, is National Moth Week. I haven't posted much about moths yet this year, so it is time to do so. Moths don't often get their due since they are seldom seen other than when the flutter around an outdoor light, or smash into your windshield as you drive along the roadway. But they are extremely diverse, with more than 3000 species known for Ontario, and some are quite colourful and intricately patterned.

My black lighting efforts have been, for various reasons, a little less intensive this year than the past couple of years. Nonetheless I have had the black lights set up both at Rondeau on several occasions as well as my yard. Of course the habitat diversity in my yard isn't nearly as great as what Rondeau or other sizeable natural areas that I've been to in the past are, but it is a lot handier, especially when a decision whether to set up the black light or not is dependent on the often unpredictable weather. 

This post will highlight some of the ones I've photographed in my yard, and include a new record for Chatham-Kent. Most, however, are fairly regular.

Hairnet Acleris

European Pine Shoot Moth (not native)

This next one, also not native, plays havoc with the fruit growing industry, particularly with apples.

Codling Moth

Celery Looper

Black-dotted Glyph

The Idia group can be quite interesting, and variable.

American Idia

Common Idia

Glossy Black Idia

Harnessed Tiger Moth

This next one is really tiny, barely 8 mm in length, and quite slender when at rest. Fortunately its bright, shiny colouration makes it a bit more obvious amidst the myriad of other creatures on the sheet.

Metallic Casebearer

Bee Moth

Oak Leafshredder Moth

Pearly Wood-Nymph

This next one, the Sharp-stigma Looper Moth, is only the second record for Chatham-Kent.

I'm not sure why this next one is called the 'Single-dotted Wave' as it seems to have a lot of dots!

Single-dotted Wave

Snowy Urola

Another very small one, only about 6-7 mm long, is the Speckled Xylesthia, shown next. The name is longer than the moth!

This next one is the Spotted Peppergrass Moth, a first for Chatham-Kent

The Wedgling

Three-lined Balsa

Virginia Tiger Moth

Sometimes when one is concentrating on the moths, other things get 'shot' as well. Such was the case for this next one. It wasn't until I got the photo on the computer and had it greatly enlarged that I noticed this other creature just below, which is only about 4-5 mm. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be a member of the non-biting midge family, perhaps in the Cricotopus genus. It doesn't have a common name that I have found yet.

And a few more non-moth invertebrates that periodically show up on the sheet.

Green Stinkbug

Eastern Calligrapher, a type of Hoverfly

Next is a member of the Ichneumonidae family, a type of wasp of the Netelia genus

And finally for this post, is a type of June bug of the Phyllophaga genus.

I expect to be out at least a couple of times this National Moth Week beyond my own yard, depending on the weather. Hopefully I will have lots of highlights to feature in a future post.

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