National Moth Week just around the corner

July 22 begins National Moth Week for 2023. I haven't been giving moths their due so far this year, but it is time! I have been out on occasion, but not as often as in the past few years. A couple of recent black lighting visits to Rondeau have been quite productive. Some of the highlights, and more colourful individuals of the approximate 100 species from those visits, are shown here.

American Idia, shown first, is pretty regular, but not always in as good a shape as this one.

Arched Hooktip

Next, slightly worse for wear but still in pretty good shape is the Beautiful Wood-nymph.

Here is one I have rarely seen, let along photographed. It is the Black Bit Moth, and fairly large as most moths go.

I'm not entirely sure about this next one. It might be a Fragile White Carpet.

Delightful Donacula

Early Button Slug Moth

For moth-ers, having Sphinx moths come to the light is always a highlight. This next one is a large Sphinx moth known as an Elm Sphinx.

Next is one with rather limited Ontario distribution, and is on the list of rare species of Ontario. It is a Faint-spotted Palthis.

Fall Webworm

Frosted Tan Wave

Another highlight is this large moth, which I have only photographed a couple of times. It is a Giant Leopard Moth.

Another rare species in Ontario is this Gold-lined Melanomma.

Quite a common species, but rarely have I seen it looking so greenish, is this Green Pug.

Guenee's Pearl

These next two are fairly regular, and quite interestingly patterned.

Hickory Tussock Moth

Jewel-tailed Slug Moth

This next one is extremely small, only about 5 mm long, and rarely photographed in Ontario. It is the Linden Bark Borer and is not native.

There are several Callus Borers, but only this Maple Callus Borer comes to a light. Of the Callus Borer group, it is easily told by the reddish/orange tip of its abdomen.

Pale-winged Crocidophora

A quite colourful and vividly patterned moth is this Pink-shaded Fern Moth, shown next. I had 8" x 12" canvas prints made of these next two due to their impressive colours and patterns.

One of my all-time favourites, seen primarily in mid to late June and sometimes early July is this Rosy Maple Moth.

Showy Emerald

This next one is new for the Rondeau checklist, and in Ontario, is only found widely scattered across the southern part of the province.

Sooty-winged Chalcoela

Another one in the slug moth group is this Spiny Oak-slug Moth.

A larger moth looking somewhat like the sphinx moths is this Spotted Apatelodes.

The Bad-wing

Beggar Moth

This next one is rather worn and torn, but it is a rare species in Ontario. Not surprisingly it is fairly regular at Rondeau as it is a Tulip-tree Beauty, where Tulip-trees are rather common.

There are several similar looking moths, but I am fairly certain this is a Virginian Tiger Moth.

Another large Sphinx moth is this next one, the Walnut Sphinx.

At the other end of the size spectrum is another slug moth, the Yellow-collared Slug Moth.

Depending on the weather and my energy levels, I expect to be out with the black lights again on several occasions over the next few nights during National Moth Week. It is about the peak time for moths, although there will be lots more to photograph and document until October!

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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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