2023 - First year of serious 'mothing'
I spent most evenings this spring/summer staying up late checking a light sheet and then setting a home made trap before bed. Every morning I would go out and check what the evening's catch was with my daughter. I can confirm what some other 'moth-ers' have said about rainy evenings, moths don't mind rain and I actually had some of my best catches on rainy nights. Now that temperatures are dropping I have dismantled my sheet and light setup and am beginning to prepare for next year.
My daughter and I began collecting insects last summer after being inspired by Entomica and seeing the insect collection at Sault College. I am currently working on 'digitizing' last years specimens. I have also been pinning this years catches. My hope is by spring I will have an empty freezer and photographs of all the specimens in the collection.
Thank you to eveyone who helped with ID's on both my moth and 'not-moth' observations. I've learned a lot in my first year on iNat!
2023 Stats:
Total species: 320
Total species caught in trap: 91
First of the season: Apr 13, 2023 - Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth (Orthosia hibisci)
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/154808722
Last of the season: Sep 23, 2023 - Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides)
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/184794634
December 31, 2023 - Brown Satyr Moth (Ufeus satyricus)
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/195429674
2023 Top 10 Favourite Observations:
The following are my personal 10 favourite from this season, in no particular order.
- Glorious Habrosyne Moth Habrosyne gloriosa
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/171836448 - White Underwing Catocala relicta
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/181906166 - Hologram Moth Diachrysia balluca
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/175921498 - Common Swift Moth Korscheltellus lupulina (first for Algoma!)
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/166415556 - Wild Cherry Sphinx Sphinx drupiferarum
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/172538115 - Black-rimmed Prominent Pheosia rimosa
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/163334718 - The Joker Feralia jocosa
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/160900015 - Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/165933988 - Modest Sphinx Pachysphinx modesta
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/169578564 - Pink Underwing Catocala concumbens
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/180352193
2024 Wish List:
These are my 10 most 'hoped for' species going into next year.
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Comstock's SallowFeralia comstockiObserved 5/10/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/214773569 - Diervilla Clearwing Hemaris aethra
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Small-eyed SphinxPaonias myopsObserved 6/18/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/223531989 - Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis
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Luna MothActias lunaObserved 6/23/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/224614105 - Cecropia Moth Hyalophora cecropia
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Rosy Maple MothDryocampa rubicundaObserved 6/02/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/219971239 -
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabellaObserved 6/08/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/221316682 -
Painted Lichen MothHypoprepia fucosaObserved 7/11/2024 https://inaturalist.ca/observations/228661592 - Primrose Moth Schinia florida