The Stonewater is moth heaven. In the mornings, the back and side walls were dotted with sleeping moths and the spiders that grow fat on them.
I haven't had time to identify these moths yet. That job will keep until we get a few rainy days. To give an idea of the size, most were photographed on the siding; 4-inch boards, about 1/2 inch thick. A few were 'way up under the eaves. I had to take the photos on tiptoe, with the camera at arm's length. The motel doesn't provide ladders. I missed some interesting moths jammed into corners along the fascia boards.
Update: Lophocampa argentata, Silver-spotted Tiger moth. Thanks, Eddie!
A very similar moth, maybe the same species, but a more sedate brown.
So does this. I don't know if it's the same species, or just very similar.
Same species, greyer moth.
A nice pattern, wings completely overlapped. High up along the fascia board.
Another one sleeping at the top. I love the zigzag pattern on the wings.
Lettered or Glorious Habrosyne. ( I love these names!)
Small moth in a long brown cloak.
This one sleeps with its head against the wall, wings folded together and held on a 45° angle.
Update: Oligocentria pallida.
Another white moth, quite a bit smaller.
Update: Little White Lichen Moth, Clemensia albata. ShotgunEddie, again.
The palest of pale greens. Sleeping head down.
Update: Pale Beauty, Campaea perlata.
Pretty moth. I had to look at it for a while before I realized that it's holding the abdomen up and curved away from the wings.
Update: Eulithis xylina.
I was too late to get a good look at this one. Nice feathers, though.
And the rest of the Stonewater spiders (and a couple of other bugs) can wait until tomorrow.
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Fabulous! I think the one with the "head against the wall" is imitating a dried, curled leaf.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. Good trick, on a tree. Doesn't work too well on a wall.
ReplyDeleteGreat selection of moths. Being western species I don't know a lot of them, and most of the small little micros I just don't know anyway, even here. But here are the ones I do know:
ReplyDelete#1 and #2 were ID'd for you already. :) I suspect #3 is the same as #2.
#4 and #5 are pugs, in the genus Eupithicia or nearby.
#6 and #7 I don't have any suggestions for (micros)
#8 is a carpet of some sort, in the Hodges # 7100-7400 range. You can browse through MPG to see if anything matches:
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Plates.shtml
#9 is either a Lettered or Glorious Habrosyne.
#10 is a Tortricidae of some sort.
#13 is another micro, can't help much.
#11 common name is Pale Prominent, #15 common name is Pale Beauty.
The others you have IDs for. The final image may have been a plume moth originally, but hard to say at this point.
Thanks, Seabrooke.
ReplyDeleteI knew you'd have some names for me. I'm going to get lazy, having such great help!