Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Toronto Wildlife => Topic started by: Brian Bailey on July 07, 2009, 11:06:11 PM

Title: Black Moths
Post by: Brian Bailey on July 07, 2009, 11:06:11 PM
I couldn't help noticing hundreds of Black Moths this evening at Sam Smith Park.  I had no idea what they were, but a Google search on "black moth" quickly led me to discover that they are Virginia Ctenucha (http://bugguide.net/node/view/7773).  (Hows that for a catchy name?)  It's a bug I've seen before, but never in those numbers.  I remember noticing one several weeks ago, and then saw a dozen or so last week, but now there are hundreds.  They seem to be concentrated in the sweet clover.

Any entomologists out there who can explain the population explosion?  I'm assuming they thrive on April weather in July.

BB