dkaposi's Favorites

Dwarf Tawny Wave. Photographed in Toronto, Ontario on 11 October 2014. As the weather has been a bit naff of late I've not run the backyard moth trap. However, we sometimes leave the porch light on all night. This morning, sitting on the wall near the light was a single geometer moth. I had a quick look thinking it would be either a Gem or a Bent-line Carpet, two late season regulars. I was shocked to see it was none other than Cyclophora nanaria - Dwarf Tawny Wave! Quite a nice looking one what with all the chestnut scaling on the cream-coloured wings. Mike King and I caught one near Lake Erie almost to the day in October 2007 during a productive period of insect immigration. That was a first for Ontario (and Canada I think) at the time. Since I've not heard of any others this could be only the second. Not bad for a non-mothing night! I've now recorded over 720 species in the 15 foot square!

Catocala habilis (Habilis Underwing). Photographed in Toronto, Ontario on 18 August 2015. First time I've seen one with a basal streak. Usually they are not so well patterned as this and appear more uniformly grayish with finely etched lines. Thus I had to think hard about the identification. Hopefully this is correct! A new moth for my garden list...

Stamnaria americana fruiting on rough horsetail (Equisetum hyemale var. affine). First brought to my attention by @erwin_pteridophilos based this observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35283155

Upon revisiting, I found thousands of infected stems of E. hyemale around this small kettle pond. Several hundred stems with visible fruiting bodies.

Glyphipterix saurodonta. Photographed at Portage Lake, Parry Sound District, Ontario on 31 August 2019. I found what could be described as a lek of these tiny moths (at least 3 individuals) fluttering around each other low to the ground along a forest trail. Although undeniably similar to G. chambersi, this is the species that is known from Ontario.

Tawny Emperor larvae. Photographed at Wilson Tract, Norfolk County, Ontario on 2 October 2019. A remarkable sight and thanks to Mary Gartshore for pointing them out. It was my mistake to label this as Hackberry Emperor and both Mary and Colin Jones have confirmed the true identity of these larvae as Tawny Emperor...