Sunday, August 02, 2009

Here be moths.

Out of the cities, the population of many-legged critters increases, both in number and variety. At the Stonewater motel, that first night, I noticed the moths around the deck lights after dark; after that, I took to doing morning and evening "bug runs".

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.



Brown and white spots. A medium-sized moth.

Update: Lophocampa argentata, Silver-spotted Tiger moth. Thanks, Eddie!



A nice rusty red. Quite small.

Update: Choristoneura occidentalis complex. Thanks, Bob Patterson!



A very similar moth, maybe the same species, but a more sedate brown.



This one sits with the wings spread wide.

Update: Eupithicia. Thanks, Seabrooke! (See comment #3)



So does this. I don't know if it's the same species, or just very similar.



A tiny, cute little guy.



Same species, greyer moth.



A nice pattern, wings completely overlapped. High up along the fascia board.

(Carpet moth)


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.

One of the Torticidae.


This one sleeps with its head against the wall, wings folded together and held on a 45° angle.

Update: Oligocentria pallida.



Pointy moth. Very small.

Update: Eudonia rectilinea.



This one was flying around in the morning. I caught it on the deck railing, under a glass.



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.

.

4 comments:

  1. Fabulous! I think the one with the "head against the wall" is imitating a dried, curled leaf.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think you're right. Good trick, on a tree. Doesn't work too well on a wall.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great 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:

    #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.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Seabrooke.
    I knew you'd have some names for me. I'm going to get lazy, having such great help!

    ReplyDelete

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