My Moths

Okay, so I looked at all my butterfly pictures and they are all from over two years ago. In Georgia we are currently at a 20 year low in our butterfly population. I've been lucky to see 6 or 7 butterflies of any note this year - and I have two butterfly gardens full of the flowers they love.

Soooo... I have a new hobby. I turn on my front porch light and wait for the moths to come on in and take their picture instead. I'm like a Motel 6 for the moths... I leave the light on for them.

So here are some of my more colorful moths - most are small, but they can be quite lovely in coloration and pattern.

This first one is a Chickweed geometer moth.

A beautiful clear picture of a lovely moth. To give its full name it is Chickweed Geometer Moth - Haematopis grataria http://www.cirrusimage.com/moths_Chickweed_Geometer.htm

And this one is a Painted Lichen moth. I will post more soon.

That picture is superb,the colours are so vibrant. Painted Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia fucosa) http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/1731.htm

Nice pictures!

I too like to stay up and look for the moths. I have seen IO moths and Giant Leopard Moth on occasion and more often than not, nightly visits from many smaller, too difficult to identify moths.

During periods of meteor activity I turn on a small clear bulb light I attach to the fence near the middle of my pool/patio area to attract moths while I lay back and look for meteors. Once in a while if there is a special celestial event on the right night of the week, we will have guests over to watch the event and enjoy our visiting moths with us.

Art

Speaking of meteors, the following was copied from the AMS meteor showers page, http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html#major More detailed, weekly information can be obtained at this site.

"The last half of July has rates increasing steadily as the Southern Delta Aquarids (July 27/28) and Alpha Capricornids (July 30 - August 1) have maxima at month's end. Even the Perseids are beginning to show a little.

Overall, late July to mid-August is very rich in meteors. The Perseid maximum, just before mid-August (August 11/12), is fairly prolonged and quite rich."

2 wonderful pics of beautiful moths! Keep postingmore pics please! :-)

-Julie

Yes, more pics!

John

Those are great pics Night Bloom. Makes me wonder what kinds of moths I have at my house.

Mark

Art - I wonder if more moths come out on nights with meteor activity, full moon, etc? Probably not, but it is an interesting question.


Here's an Eyed Pacetes moth, Paectes oculatrix. This one isn't as colorful, but I like the intricate patterns.

And since there was talk of celestial bodies, here's a Moonseed moth. The colors are subtle, but still pretty I think. More moths later - I have some more coloful ones for next time.

They are really pretty. I've learned so much the last few years and have been so surprised at how beautiful some moths really are. It's a shame that they can't be seen in the dark!

As promised, here are some more colorful moths. Both of these are small, but have pretty coloration up close. This one is a common Spragueria.

Here's another Sragueria moth. This one is the Southern Spragueria.