Moths....in winter!

 Okay maybe that title is a bit misleading as adult moths are not likely to be found in southern Ontario at this time of year, especially under the conditions that most of the winter has been. However I had planned on doing a brief post late last winter to feature late season adult moths that I had photographed in recent years, but the topic was just on the back burner for too long. 

However, in a brief period recently where the daytime temperature reached +1C, as I was hiking along the west South Point Trail at Rondeau, in between some patches of snow I came across a caterpillar along the trail. One can sometimes expect a Wooly Bear Caterpillar so show up during such times, but it was clear this was not one of them. The bristles are too long and spiky. In addition, a close-up of the area between some of the bristles show some orange. It is the caterpillar of the Giant Leopard Moth, officially a vulnerable species of moth in Ontario, making it even more unlikely to find wandering about in February!

This is what an adult Giant Leopard Moth looks like, next. I have photographed an adult coming to one of my black lights on several occasions, but only at Rondeau and Clear Creek Forest Provincial Parks. They definitely stand out!

There are a few moths that will come to a black light relatively late in the season, but ideally when the temperature remains above 10C. Sometimes they may even be seen flitting about in daylight. Here are a few examples of ones I have photographed even as late as late November, either at Rondeau or in my back yard. The advantage of Rondeau is that later in the season, with the effect of the warmer lake, it may stay above 10C a little longer.

Autumnal Moth

Bicolored Sallow

Bilobed Looper Moth

Box Tree Moth

These next two are the Bruce Spanworm Moth, showing a variable pattern and colour.

Common Tan Wave

The next two are the Corn Earworm Moth, showing different perspectives.

Green Cloverworm

Next is not a moth, but a regular but very small, visitor to black lights known as a Brown Lacewing.

Soybean Looper Moth

Tomato Looper Moth

 That's it, at least for now. With spring not far off, and as temperatures rise, I hope to get out to various places and add some new species to the list of ~750 species I have already photographed!

My next post will likely focus on late season birding highlights, unless something more interesting comes along. I do have a future post planned about the saga of the endangered Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus at Rondeau in the plans, so stay tuned.

 

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