Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Moth Week

D’oh! Yesterday you got two (2) posts for the price of one due to a scheduling error. Today, we celebrate National Moth Week. Raspberry Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta signatalis) above.

Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth (Spoladea recurvalis). Despite the common name, a native species.
Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica). Probably.
Bluegrass Webworm Moth (Parapediasia teterrellus). I think. Head down, pretending to be a twig.
Oak Skeletonizer Moth (Bucculatrix ainsliella). Quite small. On white oak leaf, but this is another ID that hasn’t been confirmed.
Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria). Fairly common around here.

These were all seen recently. My walking stirred them up. More elaborate methods like lights and moth baits, gooey mixtures of fruit and beer, at night may bring out more spectacular specimens. Though there are clearly some stunners in the very grass before you.

mthew

Leave a comment