Hey, everyone. I've been enjoying seeing some photos from around the state, mothing vicariously through others. I've had some interesting stuff as of late and have attached a bunch of pictures that I hope you in turn enjoy. Among them have been my first Laurel Sphinx (Sphinx kalmiae), a species that Bo Sullivan told me is nowhere common in the state, in his experience (I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has seen this species on a regular basis). I also found a most interesting moth this morning. For all intents and purposes it looks like an Oblique Heterocampa (Heterocampa obliqua - 7983) but the color pattern is weird. Where there is normally a bronzy brown patch, on this moth the patch is buffy. It also has some rosy pink along the front edge of the patch, not something that obliqua normally shows. And I'm not sure what to make of the buffy/pink area at the base of the wings nor the big buffy top of the thorax. The buffiness is not just wear as it has the exact same pattern on the other side. While the pattern of obliqua is pretty uniqua, it certainly doesn't look like any obliqua I've seen. I've attached an image of a normal obliqua. Some of the other "sexier" characters that have graced me by their presence include: Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis - 4647) - lots of these around right now Shagreened Slug Moth (Apoda biguttata - 4669) Hag Moth (Phobetron pithecium - 4677) The Angel (Olceclostera angelica - 7665) Riley's Lappet Moth (Heteropacha rileyana - 7685) Spiny Oakworm Moth (Anisota stigma - 7716) - lots of these around as well Tulip-tree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera - 7765) Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica - 7778) Elm Sphinx (Manduca jasminearum - 7783) Ash Sphinx (Ceratomia amyntor - 7786) Georgian Prominent (Hyperaeschra georgica - 7907) White Furcula (Furcula borealis - 7936) Green-dusted Zale (Zale aeruginosa - 8694) Good mothing. Parker Backstrom Bear Creek, Chatham County
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Sphinx kalmiae - 2010-07-10 Chatham Co NC, Goldston -TL53mm -1 COPY.jpg
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Heterocampa obliqua - 07-31-09 Lee Co NC, Sanford -COPY.jpg
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DSC_0063 - 2010-07-15 Lee Co NC, Sanford -TL18 -1 COPY.jpg
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DSC_0007 - 2010-07-12 Chatham Co NC, Gulf -TL32mm COPY.jpg
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DSC_0087 - 2010-07-17 Chatham Co NC, Goldston -TL69mm -1 COPY.jpg
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DSC_0018 - 2010-07-12 Lee Co NC, Sanford -TW42mm -1 COPY.jpg
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