2021 moth observations

[gary yankech]

Hello everyone! As I have done previously, here are my annual favorite moth observations from this year. 2021 was a decent year, so far 207 species were observed, of which 39 were new to me.  This year, I led moth night events in several new locales; Downsview Park, Robert E. Bowles Nature Centre in Kawartha Lakes, and a private land trust on the Oak Ridges Moraine. I tried to mostly include photos of moth species not previously shown here on this forum. As before, feel free to share which was your favorite, or one(s) you found interesting. Enjoy!


Backyard Moths


Despite setting up my sheets more frequently this year, new moth diversity was low.


Grote's Sallow, new species


Grote's Sallow by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Small-eyed Sphinx


Small-eyed Sphinx by Yankech gary, on Flickr


American Bird's-wing, new species


American Bird's-wing by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Black Zale, new species


BLack Zale by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Rose Plume Moth


Rose Plume Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Kermes Scale Moth, a regular visitor to my backyard


Kermes Scale Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Boxwood Leaftier, another one of my favorite backyard visitors


Boxwood Leaftier by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Lesser Underwing, an introduced species to Ontario


Lesser Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Yellow-faced Bell


Yellow-face Bell by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Chokecherry Leafroller, new species


Chokecherry Leafroller by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Undetermined moth, Genus Micrurapteryx, many moths seen are challenging to get to species level


Undetermined moth, Genus Micrurapteryx by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Dark Marathyssa


Dark Marathyssa by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Ancylis brauni, new species


Ancylis brauni by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Larch Tolype


Larch Tolype by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Yellow Nutsedge Moth


Yellow Nutsedge Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Sooty-winged Chalcoela Moth, another favorite but an irregular backyard visitor


Sooty-winged Chalcoela Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr




Argyresthia calliphanes


Argyresthia calliphanes by Yankech gary, on Flickr




Downsview Park Moth Night, North York


Darling Underwing


Darling Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Betrothed Underwing


Betrothed Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Box Tree Moth, new species,  an introduced and invasive species to Ontario from Asia


Box Tree Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr




Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust Moth Night


Ultronia Underwing

Ultronia Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Carmine Snout

Carmine Snout by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Rosy Rustic, new species

Rosy Rustic by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Undetermined Moth, Tribe Olethreutini

Undetermined Moth, Tribe Olethreutini by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Hologram Moth, an all-time favorite moth of mine

Hologram Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Isabella Tiger Moth,  the caterpillar of this species is known as the "Wolly Bear"

Isabella Tiger Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr



Robert E. Bowles Nature Centre Moth night

Kawartha Lakes, Ontario


Blinded Sphinx


Blinded Sphinx by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Bog Lygropia


Bog Lygropia by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Johnson's Euchlaena Moth, new species


Johnson's Euchlaena Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Charming Underwing

Charming Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr

White-streaked Looper, neew species

White-streaked Looper by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Undetermined Moth, Genus Diathrausta

Undetermined moth, Genus Diathrausta by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Once-married Underwing, new species

Once-married Underwing by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Forked Grass-Veener, new species

Forked Grass-Veener by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Curved-lined Vaxi

Curved-lined Vaxi by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Oranged-headed Epicallima Moth, a very common but tiny moth, about 6 mm in length

Oranged-headed Epicallima Moth by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Celery Looper

Celery Looper by Yankech gary, on Flickr

Bracebridge, Ontario

I set up my moth lights at a friend's cottage...but it rained almost all night and was quite cool for August.
Almost no moths showed up at the sheets


Reaper Dart, new species

Reaper Dart by Yankech gary, on Flickr


Yellow-headed Cutworm


Yellow-headed Cutworm by Yankech gary, on Flickr


I hope you enjoyed these moth photos, have a wonderful holiday season!


Gary Yankech


https://gynaturephotography.smugmug.com/

[Ally]

Wow, those are wonderful, thanks for sharing! Some of them are so artistic looking!

[gary yankech]

Wow, those are wonderful, thanks for sharing! Some of them are so artistic looking!

Thanks Ally!

[Bird Brain]

Gary - Wow, these are fantastic photos!   My favourite is Larch Tolype.  Last Fall at Riverwood saw a Wooly Bear caterpillar - apparently becomes a moth.

[gary yankech]

Gary - Wow, these are fantastic photos!   My favourite is Larch Tolype.  Last Fall at Riverwood saw a Wooly Bear caterpillar - apparently becomes a moth.

Thanks Joanne! Yes, I love the Larch Toylpe too, it is a strange but beautiful moth.


Gary

[Shortsighted]

 Comparative moth morphology is not for the faint of heart. Alien is the only word to describe some of these species. Congratulation on the Once-married. Now find me a Twice Divorced. The White-streaked Looper actually looks rather intelligent and therefore I feel a little intimidated. Johnson’s Euchlaema is right out of a comic book, like a bat-moth, … holy flutter Mothman! Blinded Sphinx is a failed attempt at origami, while the Hologram moth looks like a “transporter” accident on the Enterprise. Say, do you think that the Carmine snout is armour-piercing? Let’s face it, Argyresthia calliphanes just made a bad landing … I know I have. I could walk away and it could surely fly away. Who doesn’t love a shaggy dog and Larch tolype sure does a great impression of one. I’m thinking that Dark Marathyssa is lethal. I believe that I’ve seen something of the genus Micrurapteryx at a surplus electronic component outlet so that suggests it is a moth that will conduct electricity, but is it AC or DC? Let’s keep sex out of it, shall we? The Boxwood leaftier looks prehistoric or other-worldly. Maybe the Rose plume will reincarnate as a dragon because it has got the look down pat. Wondrous display of moths that deserves its own museum. You should put on a gallery show. It will surely drive your patrons mad! Man, I need a drink. I have a Rioja open. Will drinking it ever remind me of exotic moths? Will I sleep well tonight?

[gary yankech]

Comparative moth morphology is not for the faint of heart. Alien is the only word to describe some of these species. Congratulation on the Once-married. Now find me a Twice Divorced. The White-streaked Looper actually looks rather intelligent and therefore I feel a little intimidated. Johnson’s Euchlaema is right out of a comic book, like a bat-moth, … holy flutter Mothman! Blinded Sphinx is a failed attempt at origami, while the Hologram moth looks like a “transporter” accident on the Enterprise. Say, do you think that the Carmine snout is armour-piercing? Let’s face it, Argyresthia calliphanes just made a bad landing … I know I have. I could walk away and it could surely fly away. Who doesn’t love a shaggy dog and Larch tolype sure does a great impression of one. I’m thinking that Dark Marathyssa is lethal. I believe that I’ve seen something of the genus Micrurapteryx at a surplus electronic component outlet so that suggests it is a moth that will conduct electricity, but is it AC or DC? Let’s keep sex out of it, shall we? The Boxwood leaftier looks prehistoric or other-worldly. Maybe the Rose plume will reincarnate as a dragon because it has got the look down pat. Wondrous display of moths that deserves its own museum. You should put on a gallery show. It will surely drive your patrons mad! Man, I need a drink. I have a Rioja open. Will drinking it ever remind me of exotic moths? Will I sleep well tonight?

My oh my....that's a wordful....try reading this in one breath! THank you for your comic, yet reflective response.


Gary

[Dr. John]

Another amazing collection of photographs.  So many beautiful and often strange beings.  Perhaps the strangest is the Dark Marathyssa, with its abdomen sticking up at an odd angle.

[gary yankech]

Another amazing collection of photographs.  So many beautiful and often strange beings.  Perhaps the strangest is the Dark Marathyssa, with its abdomen sticking up at an odd angle.

Yes, thank you for your kind words. ...The Dark Marathyssa does not look like a moth, in the traditional sense. I wonder if aviation engineers and designers get their insiprations from nature. 

[Axeman]

As always, a real treat!

[gary yankech]

As always, a real treat!

Thanks! Enjoy the rest of 2021!

[Dinusaur]

Oh wow, another great annual report on moths. Thanks for sharing these photos Gary - some of them look like they are out of this world. I hope a book is in the making.

[Shortsighted]

 Excluding those moths that are exotic in their morphology, the remaining more typical moths share the characteristic delta shape when their wings are folded and at rest. The aeronautical engineer Geoffrey de Havilland, who started the famous aircraft design company and brought the industry such iconic airplanes as the Gypsy Moth, Tiger Moth, Puss Moth and others, also had a side passion for insects, especially moths and butterflies. The folded wing arrangement displayed by most moths gave him the idea to build some of his planes, the DH 60 initially, with retractable wings so that the sports plane could be more easily transported and stored. He was an early moth-man, while you are a more recent incarnation and devotee. Perhaps you will be as famous one day. You already are so on this forum.

[gary yankech]

Oh wow, another great annual report on moths. Thanks for sharing these photos Gary - some of them look like they are out of this world. I hope a book is in the making.

Thank you! My retirement goal is to open a photo gallery. But, a book does sound like a cool idea!


Gary

[gary yankech]

Excluding those moths that are exotic in their morphology, the remaining more typical moths share the characteristic delta shape when their wings are folded and at rest. The aeronautical engineer Geoffrey de Havilland, who started the famous aircraft design company and brought the industry such iconic airplanes as the Gypsy Moth, Tiger Moth, Puss Moth and others, also had a side passion for insects, especially moths and butterflies. The folded wing arrangement displayed by most moths gave him the idea to build some of his planes, the DH 60 initially, with retractable wings so that the sports plane could be more easily transported and stored. He was an early moth-man, while you are a more recent incarnation and devotee. Perhaps you will be as famous one day. You already are so on this forum.

Yes, I did know that some aircraft designs were inspired by nature...like the helicopter mimicking dragonfly movements.  Me famous though...that's very interesting.. haha, I'm glad everyone enjoys my photos, cheer my friends! I enjoy your bird and other nature photos as well.


Gary Yankech