Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Toronto Wildlife => Topic started by: gary yankech on September 01, 2020, 02:59:01 PM

Title: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: gary yankech on September 01, 2020, 02:59:01 PM
This was an exceptional year. I was only able to get out for mothing at Awenda PP and my annual Algonquin PP trip. No other insects surveys, all canceled due to COVID-19.  So, I ended up mostly mothing in my backyard. Here are my favorite moths of the backyard summer season. This year I saw less moths than in previous years, 208 confirmed species so far. September is not so good for mothing, plus I am back to work. I will not be mothing much anymore. Enjoy my backyard moths, let me know which is your favorite!

May 23

Abbott's Sphinx
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363203_6896c41628_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKXa)Abbott's Sphinx (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKXa) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Bicolored Woodgrain
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363453_98b8edca7d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL2t)Bicolored Woodgrain (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL2t) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

May 24

Common Looper
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040621_3bf5aea829_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejM)Common Looper (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejM) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

June 6

Chickweed Geometer
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040611_d1f1b84b46_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejB)Chickweed Geometer (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejB) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

June 20

Delicate Cycnia, a simple, elegant moth!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363428_b816982ffe_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL23)Delicate Cycnia (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL23) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Glorious Habrosyne, an imperiled (S2/S3) moth in Ontario
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040861_16a3a432a3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeoV)Glorious Habrosyne (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeoV) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Pale Metanama
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363398_50316b44b4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL1w)Pale Metanama (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkL1w) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

June 22

Green Marvel
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295194177_927fd82eee_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1Yi)Green Marvel (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1Yi) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Orange-headed Epilallima , a micromoth, only  6-7 mm long!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040841_8de31cf93c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeoz)Orange-headed Epicallima (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeoz) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

June 26

Banded Tussock Moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363363_41e5509993_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKZV)Banded Tussock Moth (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKZV) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

June 29

Dimorphic Tosale, a lifer moth for me
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040591_899dd3ffdd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejg)Dimorphic Tosale (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpejg) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Hydrangea Leaftier
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295193922_630efde619_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1TU)Hydrangea Leaftier (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1TU) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Squash Vine Borer, another lifer moth, this was not seen at my sheet but in my garden, it was pollinating my zucchinis!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040816_238beb7585_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeo9)Squash Vine Borer (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeo9) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 2

Kermes Scale Moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363113_0cb41a77d9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKVB)Kermes Scale Moth (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKVB) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Maple Callus Borer...yes!, this is a moth.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295194137_942be3b8bb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1XB)Maple Callus Borer (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1XB) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Pearly Wood-nymph, very similar to Beautiful Wood-nymph, both have been seen in my backyard
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363328_f7e2f41749_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKZj)Pearly Wood-nymph (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKZj) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Virginia Creeper Sphinx
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040781_4a53157973_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpenx)Virginia Creeper Sphinx (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpenx) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 4

Pink-shaded Fern Moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295194087_594efd3c57_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1WK)Pink-shaded Fern Moth (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1WK) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Streaked Ethmia
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295193917_b0f7fd66e9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1TP)Streaked Ethmia (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1TP) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 9

Orange Stripe-backed Moth, another lifer micromoth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040516_07fb6d8c3c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehY)Orange Stripe-backed Moth (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehY) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Thin-winged Owlet, another lifer moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040751_30df917a89_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpen2)Thin-winged Owlet (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpen2) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 13

Fine-lined Sallow, apparently, a good GTA record
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040506_366fb7b627_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehN)Fine-lined Sallow (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehN) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Primrose Cochylid, another garden loving Moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363288_db6c3266cd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKYC)Primrose Cochylid (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKYC) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 18

Blackberry Looper
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040701_7a75c49456_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpema)Blackberry Looper (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpema) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

July 26

Spindle Ermine, an introduced species to Ontario
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040496_2537086c96_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehC)Spindle Ermine (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehC) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

August 9

Belted Leafroller
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295194052_05f432e167_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1W9)Belted Leafroller (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1W9) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Bethrothed Underwing
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294363248_1a952348b1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKXW)Bethrothed Underwing (https://flic.kr/p/2jCkKXW) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Darker-spotted Straw Moth, another lifer moth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040476_5d21ce6019_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehh)Darker-spotted Straw Moth (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpehh) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

August 14

Barberry Geometer
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040666_33fb4b26ca_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeky)Barberry Geometer (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeky) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Variegated Cutworm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295193862_84bcb75c8d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1SS)Variegated Cutworm (https://flic.kr/p/2jCq1SS) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

August 30

Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040651_db809e8612_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeki)Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpeki) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr

Unspotted Looper
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50295040426_4cec69ed2e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpegq)Unspotted Looper (https://flic.kr/p/2jCpegq) by Yankech gary (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49663413@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: Shortsighted on September 01, 2020, 04:51:25 PM
Remarkable collection of creatures these moth are.
They look so otherworldly that it makes me talk like Yoda.
I mean, the Lesser Vagabond looks extraterrestrial and I
might not survive an intimate glimpse of a Greater Vagabond.
The colour of the Primrose Cochylid and the Blackberry Looper
remind me of ore, like Cinnabar and Crysocolla, respectively.
The Green Marvel is, ... well, ... marvelous. The Dimorphic
Tasale belongs on a stage of an opera. When I finish this post
I think I'll write some music for it. The Squash Vine Borer is
decorated in what can only be described as Escadrille squadron
livery. The Pearly Wood Nymph looks like a lost earring. The
Virgina Creeper Sphinx reminds me of a ship I once saw on
Star trek. The Streaked Ethmin resembles an Ethiopian queen,
while the Pale Metanam strikes me as a stealth bomber.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mFchD8M/0/10ae99bc/S/i-mFchD8M-S.jpg) (https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-358cgw/i-mFchD8M/A)
CINNABAR

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KcPtf2T/0/60502ae1/S/i-KcPtf2T-S.jpg) (https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-358cgw/i-KcPtf2T/A)
CRYSOCOLLA
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: gary yankech on September 01, 2020, 08:24:09 PM
Quote from: "Shortsighted"
Remarkable collection of creatures these moth are.
They look so otherworldly that it makes me talk like Yoda.
I mean, the Lesser Vagabond looks extraterrestrial and I
might not survive an intimate glimpse of a Greater Vagabond.
The colour of the Primrose Cochylid and the Blackberry Looper
remind me of ore, like Cinnabar and Crysocolla, respectively.
The Green Marvel is, ... well, ... marvelous. The Dimorphic
Tasale belongs on a stage of an opera. When I finish this post
I think I'll write some music for it. The Squash Vine Borer is
decorated in what can only be described as Escadrille squadron
livery. The Pearly Wood Nymph looks like a lost earring. The
Virgina Creeper Sphinx reminds me of a ship I once saw on
Star trek. The Streaked Ethmin resembles an Ethiopian queen,
while the Pale Metanam strikes me as a stealth bomber.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mFchD8M/0/10ae99bc/S/i-mFchD8M-S.jpg) (https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-358cgw/i-mFchD8M/A)
CINNABAR

(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KcPtf2T/0/60502ae1/S/i-KcPtf2T-S.jpg) (https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-358cgw/i-KcPtf2T/A)
CRYSOCOLLA

Awesome! I love your  celestial commentary and the ore color comparison.  I'll need to make "note" of them.
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: Dr. John on September 02, 2020, 12:27:06 PM
A remarkable collection - hard to pick favourites as there is such diversity.  I lack both your knowledge and dedication to moths.  My only recent moth encounters of note were a great ash sphinx that hung around my feet and a gypsy moth laying her eggs - both in the Kawarthas.
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: Dinusaur on September 02, 2020, 01:54:13 PM
Beautiful set as always Gary - I only know of 'Looper' as a movie, never knew of a moth named as such. Then again it took me 7 years to identify a Squash Vine Borer after I took this photo in my front yard in 2012.

[attachment=0:f0hc0w5b]DSC_0689b.JPG[/attachment:f0hc0w5b]
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: gary yankech on September 02, 2020, 07:16:35 PM
Quote from: "Dr. John"
A remarkable collection - hard to pick favourites as there is such diversity.  I lack both your knowledge and dedication to moths.  My only recent moth encounters of note were a great ash sphinx that hung around my feet and a gypsy moth laying her eggs - both in the Kawarthas.

A Great Ash Sphinx is a great find! I saw my first one last year. Gypsy....ahhh, well, that's another story.  Such a destructive moth.

https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/local ... an%20adult (https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/local-news/eastern-ontario-in-grip-of-worst-gypsy-moth-outbreak-in-30-years#:~:text=The%20worst%20Gypsy%20moth%20caterpillar,forests%20at%20an%20alarming%20rate.&text=Gyspy%20moth%20caterpillars%2C%20he%20said,before%20pupating%20into%20an%20adult).
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: gary yankech on September 02, 2020, 07:28:35 PM
Quote from: "Dinusaur"
Beautiful set as always Gary - I only know of 'Looper' as a movie, never knew of a moth named as such. Then again it took me 7 years to identify a Squash Vine Borer after I took this photo in my front yard in 2012.

[attachment=0:3cgpcx6v]DSC_0689b.JPG[/attachment:3cgpcx6v]

Thank, love the photo of the Squash Vine Borer! It's smaller than our picture makes it appear eh, almost like a wasp or oversized fly. There are many cool Looper Moths. Loopers are a subfamily of Noctuid moths, Plusiinae (Looper Moths). But many moths have "looper" in their name (like Blackberry Looper) and have no relation to Plusiiane moths. A Blackberry Looper is a Carpet moth. Just to make things confusing!

If you have a moth photo you wish to have identified, send it my way!  I'd love to help out.  Cheers!

Gary
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: dodo on September 13, 2020, 11:01:46 AM
I like the Green Marvel because I have a preference for colourful moths. I seldom  see moths but one afternoon I photographed a Virginia ctenucha on a leaf because I was impressed by its bright orange and blue colours.
Title: Re: 2020 backyard moths....
Post by: gary yankech on September 13, 2020, 10:13:43 PM
Quote from: "dodo"
I like the Green Marvel because I have a preference for colourful moths. I seldom  see moths but one afternoon I photographed a Virginia ctenucha on a leaf because I was impressed by its bright orange and blue colours.

Yes....Virginia ctenucha is one of my favorite day moths too!