[ncsc-moths] Re: Wake County Mothing 2/14 - 2/17

  • From: Kyle Kittelberger <kkturtledude@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:57:40 -0800 (PST)

no problem. Heading to the coast pretty soon. will text you and matt after the 
boat ride to let you know what i see. and remember, i then leave for colorado 
the following day, so check my flickr and probably my blog, as I will post what 
i am seeing there. 


Kyle




________________________________
From: Ali Iyoob <Aliiyoob@xxxxxxxxx>
To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, February 18, 2011 12:34:19 PM
Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: Wake County Mothing 2/14 - 2/17


I have looked back at all my moths I thought were sloping, and agree with you 
that they’re all Speckled Green Fruitworms.
Thanks!
Ali
 
From:ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ncsc-moths-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
On 
Behalf Of J. Merrill Lynch
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 11:53 AM
To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: Wake County Mothing 2/14 - 2/17
 
Kyle,
 
Impressive list.  I think your Phigalia photos are denticulata.  The pm line in 
denticulata generally has a big bend as it approaches the inner margin.  In 
strigataria the pm line is straighter as it approaches the inner margin.  Also, 
my experience is strigataria flies later in the spring.  I went back and 
checked 
my mystery micro photo (I had totally forgotten about it) and I think you may 
be 
right that it's a palmerworm moth.  They overwinter as adults which would 
obviously make them a likely species to encounter during a winter warm spell.
 
I'm wondering about the sloping sallows that you and Ali reported.  I'm not 
familiar with that species but I note in Bugguide that it is a fall flyer.  
And, 
Ali's photo, to my eye anyway, looks a lot like the Speckled Green Fruitworm 
Moth (Orthosia hibisci) #10495 which is very common and an early spring flyer. 
 
I'm stumped by your mystery moth.  Has the jiz of a Psaphida but doesn't match 
anything in MPG.
 
Merrill 
On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 4:38 AM, Kyle Kittelberger <kkturtledude@xxxxxxxxx> 
wrote:
Hey everyone,
 
This past week proved to be the most productive week I have probably ever had 
for moths. On the eve of the 14th I set up my moth black light sheet, but also 
placed some mushed up banana and brown sugar on a post. Though nothing actually 
came to the bait (except raccoons), I had an unbelievable number of moths at 
the 
sheet. The first moths i had were several Sloping Sallows, a lifer for me. 
Straight-toothed sallows also were present, as well as many phigalias, a 
possible Three-spotted sallow (check photo), a Common Oak Moth (lifer), and a 
micro moth. After doing some reserach i discovered that my micro was a 
Palmerworm Moth #2281, another lifer for me (Merrill, if you are reading this, 
i 
believe this is what your mystery micro moth from earlier in the month is). I 
also had a Dimorphic Pinion, which interestingly was burrying itself in the 
leaves. 

Tonight was another fantastic night, and this time I set up moth baits in 
several areas, either painting my concoction of rotten banana, brown sugar, 
sugar, and some wine on trees or running rope in the mix and then hanging this. 
Within 20 to 30 minutes of me putting out these baits, i already had sallows 
feeding on them. The 'usual' sallows (Sloping, Straight-toothed) were present, 
as well as a couple Oak moths. I had a Variable Sallow on one of my ropes, a 
lifer for me. I also had a noctuid moth on my sheet that i can't id. I have 
posted a pic, any help would be greatly appreciated!
Below are the lists of moths i had for the 14th and 17th. I have also attached 
a 
couple pics of phigalias that i believe are Small Phigalias, but i am not an 
expert with these species. And image 0686 I am not sure about either; is it a 
Palmerworm Moth (image 0684) too? If anyone can help me with these 
identifications that would be terrific!
 
February 14th:
2281 Palmerworm Moth- 1 Lifer!
6658 Half-wing - 1
6659 Toothed Phigalia- 15
6662 Spring Cankerworm- 2
7416 Bent-line Carpet Moth - 1
8465 Green Cloverworm- 1
8591 Common Oak Moth- 1 Lifer!
9886 Dimorphic Pinion- 1 
9933 Straight-toothed Sallow- 3
9935 Three-spotted Sallow? - 1 check image
9946 Sloping Sallow- 4 Lifer!
 
February 17th:
2281 Palmerworm Moth- 1 
6659 Toothed Phigalia- 2
6662 Spring Cankerworm- 1
8465 Green Cloverworm- 4
8591 Common Oak Moth- 2
9933 Straight-toothed Sallow- 3
9941 Variable Sallow- 1 Lifer!
9946 Sloping Sallow- 6
Mystery moth- 1 See pic 0731
 
Happy mothing,
 
Kyle Kittelberger    
Raleigh, NC
www.flickr.com/photos/hawk-eagle/
 



-- 
J. Merrill Lynch
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Elevation:  3,400 feet


      

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