We passed 1500 species!
For more than a year I've been guessing we probably would approach or hit 1500 species in this group and start to see our numbers level out. But we've passed 1500 species now and we're still cruising! Who knows how many moth species are in Oklahoma!?!
I've found my own number growing at a rate I didn't expect to still be seeing, especially right here in my own yard. Over the last two weeks I've had 4 new species here in my own yard that I hadn't seen in 3 years of observations. I wasn't even putting in much effort, just checking my porch light.
Sesame Leafroller photographed by Anna Bennett (southeast Oklahoma)
One moth that has caught my eye is the Sesame Leafroller (Antigastra catalaunalis). Anna Bennett (@annainok) had seen this moth last week, so when I saw it a few days later I recognized it from her observation. Apparently this species is introduced and invasive in the United States. There is some confusion about the host plants it is using here.
Sesame Leafroller photographed by me (central Oklahoma)
Sesame Leafroller photographed by Tomasz Kuder (central Oklahoma)
I think it's interesting that there 5 observations of this species in Oklahoma and all from the last month and spread from northwest to southeast. There are no prior records in Oklahoma on BugGuide or MothPhotographersGroup. The first record on iNaturalist in Oklahoma is from Tomasz Kuder (@strix_v) from 11 days ago. Is it just now spreading rapidly throughout the US?
Sesame Leafroller photographed by @calinsdad (northwest Oklahoma)
