That's an impressive list for so early in the year! I'm at 40 or so identified species with 10 or so torts and gelechiids that may never be identified. My plan for 2012 is to not spend as much time mothing as I did last year but to do occasional sampling when conditions are at their best, hoping to get better photos or some lifers/new species for Chester County. So far I've added 6 species to my life list in 2012. Ken Childs Henderson, TN Chester County http://tinyurl.com/FinishFlagFarmsMoths http://www.finishflagfarms.com ________________________________ From: Parker Backstrom <dpbackstrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2012 5:44 PM Subject: [ncsc-moths] Chatham County Moths Greetings from NC’s piedmont. Thanks to Marvin and Hugh for their thoughts on the Psaphida image I posted a few days ago. Upon continued contemplation I’m convinced it is indeed P. rolandi. I’ve seen considerable variation in several individuals over the past couple of days. I’m afraid I can’t address the yellow antennae question posed by Hugh but it would be worth an examination as identifying worn Psaphida can pose challenges, I’m sure. I have had a pretty good year so far for moths. I did a quick-and-dirty review of my records find that I recorded a minimum of 57 species between January 1 and March 1 (see list below—and I’m sure I missed a couple). All were seen at lights; I’ve done no baiting this winter. I again ask for some thoughts on a couple of moths. I’ve attached a photo of a Lithophane that bombed in last night and allowed two quick shots before zipping away again not to return. This is a group I don’t have much experience with. I’m calling it a well-marked innominate but welcome contrary thoughts. More intriguing was what I thought was just a variation of Phoberia atomaris when I took it. However, when I looked at the photo this morning I quickly concluded that it was not this species. Based on the limited resources I’ve checked (MPG) I’m thinking it might be an as-yet undescribed species of Cissusa. It’s definitely not spadix. Once again, I’d welcome any thoughts anyone might have. (Forgive the image quality. I bought Photoshop Elements 10 this year and am still figuring out how to tweak images so that they look the way I want them to look.) The genus seems right but beyond that I’m at a loss. I will put the light on again tonight hoping for a return so that I might collect it/another one for examination. The next couple of nights should be mild and therefore pretty good, especially Friday night. I’ve had FOYs each night the past week so I’m looking forward to seeing what tonight brings. Things are definitely starting to pop ‘round here. Lep on, everybody! Parker 0434.99 – Tineid sp. 0486.97 – Bacculatrix sp. [?] 2366 – Plutella xylostalla (Diamondback Moth) 2868 – Rhyacionia rigidana (Pitch Pine Tip Moth) 28xx – Rhyacionia sp. x 2 3272 – Chimoptesis garulae 3273 – Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana 3325.1 – Epinotia n. spp. [?] 3536 – Acleris robinsoniana (Robinson’s Acleris) 3597 – Argyrotaenia velutinana (Red-banded Leafroller) 5079 – Udea rubigalis (Celery Leaftier) 5143 – Diacme adipaloides (Darker Diacme) 60xx – Plume moths (2 spp.) 6258 – Alsophila pometaria (Fall Cankerworm) 6362 – Digrammia continuata (Curve-lined Angle) 6594 – Cleora sublunaria (Double-lined Gray) 6620 – Melanolophia canadaria (Canadian Melanolophia) 6658 – Phigalia titea (Half-wing) 6659 – Phigalia denticulate (Toothed Phigalia) 6660 – Phigalia strigataria (Small Phigalia) 6662 – Paleacita vernata (Spring Cankerworm) 6663 – Paleacita merriccata (White-spotted Cankerworm) 6966 – Eutrapela clemataria (Curve-toothed Geometer) 7416 – Costaconvexa centrostrigaria (Bent-line Carpet) 7414 – Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) 7474 – Eupethicia miserulata (Common Eupethicia) 7951 – Symmerista albifrons (White-headed Prominent) 8465 – Hypena scabra (Green Cloverworm) 8591 – Phoberia atomaris (Common Oak Moth) 8592 – Cissusa spadix (Black-dotted Brown) 8596.96 – Cissusa n. spp. [photo] 8733 – Caenurgia chloropha (Vetch Looper) 8962 – Paectes abrostoloides (Large Paectes) 8978 – Nycteola metaspilella (Forgotten Frigid Owlet) 8908 – Autographa precationis (Common Looper) 9182 – Panthea furcilla (Eastern Panthea) 9522 – Lodopepla u-album (White-eyed Borer) 9684 – Elaphria grata (Grateful Midget) 9688 – Galgula partita (The Wedgling) 9888 – Lithophane innominate (Nameless Pinion) – presumably [photo] 9910 – Lithophane antennata (Ashen Pinion) 9929 – Pyreffera hesperidago (Mustard Sallow) 9933 – Eupsilia vinulenta (Straight-toothed Sallow) 9935 – Eupsilia tristigmata (Three-spotted Sallow) 9941 – Sericaglaea signata (Variable Sallow) 10007 – Feralia major (Major Sallow) 10012 – Psaphida electilis (Chosen Sallow – both forms) 10013 – Psaphida grandis (Gray Sallow) 10014 – Psaphida rolandi (Roland’s Sallow) 10019 – Psaphida resumens (Figure-eight Sallow) 10438 – Mythimna unipuncta (Armyworm) 10495 – Orthosia hibisci (Green Speckled Quaker) 10517 – Egira alternans (Alternate Woodling) 10994 – Cerastis tenebrifera (Reddish Speckled Dart) Plus 7-8 spp. torts that I haven’t taken the time to identify. From:ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hugh McGuinness Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 10:00 AM To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: tn-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: Roland's Sallow? Hi Parker and everyone else, Your Psaphida is certainly rolandi. Some individuals are well marked and others have hardly any markings at all. On another topic, those yellow antennae in P grandis seem like a good mark. Do any other psaphida have yellow antennae? H