2020 backyard moths....

[gary yankech]

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
Abbott's Sphinx by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Bicolored Woodgrain
Bicolored Woodgrain by Yankech gary, on Flickr

May 24

Common Looper
Common Looper by Yankech gary, on Flickr

June 6

Chickweed Geometer
Chickweed Geometer by Yankech gary, on Flickr

June 20

Delicate Cycnia, a simple, elegant moth!
Delicate Cycnia by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Glorious Habrosyne, an imperiled (S2/S3) moth in Ontario
Glorious Habrosyne by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Pale Metanama
Pale Metanama by Yankech gary, on Flickr

June 22

Green Marvel
Green Marvel by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Orange-headed Epilallima , a micromoth, only  6-7 mm long!
Orange-headed Epicallima by Yankech gary, on Flickr

June 26

Banded Tussock Moth
Banded Tussock Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

June 29

Dimorphic Tosale, a lifer moth for me
Dimorphic Tosale by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Hydrangea Leaftier
Hydrangea Leaftier by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Squash Vine Borer, another lifer moth, this was not seen at my sheet but in my garden, it was pollinating my zucchinis!
Squash Vine Borer by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 2

Kermes Scale Moth
Kermes Scale Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Maple Callus Borer...yes!, this is a moth.
Maple Callus Borer by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Pearly Wood-nymph, very similar to Beautiful Wood-nymph, both have been seen in my backyard
Pearly Wood-nymph by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Virginia Creeper Sphinx by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 4

Pink-shaded Fern Moth
Pink-shaded Fern Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Streaked Ethmia
Streaked Ethmia by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 9

Orange Stripe-backed Moth, another lifer micromoth
Orange Stripe-backed Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Thin-winged Owlet, another lifer moth
Thin-winged Owlet by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 13

Fine-lined Sallow, apparently, a good GTA record
Fine-lined Sallow by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Primrose Cochylid, another garden loving Moth
Primrose Cochylid by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 18

Blackberry Looper
Blackberry Looper by Yankech gary, on Flickr

July 26

Spindle Ermine, an introduced species to Ontario
Spindle Ermine by Yankech gary, on Flickr

August 9

Belted Leafroller
Belted Leafroller by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Bethrothed Underwing
Bethrothed Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Darker-spotted Straw Moth, another lifer moth
Darker-spotted Straw Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

August 14

Barberry Geometer
Barberry Geometer by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Variegated Cutworm
Variegated Cutworm by Yankech gary, on Flickr

August 30

Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm
Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Unspotted Looper
Unspotted Looper by Yankech gary, on Flickr

[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.

CINNABAR


CRYSOCOLLA

[gary yankech]

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.

CINNABAR


CRYSOCOLLA

Awesome! I love your  celestial commentary and the ore color comparison.  I'll need to make "note" of them.

[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.

[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:f0hc0w5b]DSC_0689b.JPG[/attachment:f0hc0w5b]

[gary yankech]

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.

[gary yankech]

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

[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.

[gary yankech]

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!