Banded Tussock Moth

Wed, 07/18/2018
pale moth on George's hand, pale moth on sheet, pale moth on plastic bucket

This one is Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris). They were very abundant, at Pine Haven this weekend.

7/15/2018, 7/16/2018, Wentworth NH. Attracted to UV light.

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Tachina Fly

Sun, 06/24/2018
red bristly fly on window screen

[blows dust off blog]

I think this slightly menacing fly is Hystricia abrupta, a parasitoid (some number of moth caterpillars are possible hosts). Attracted to lights, 2018/06/23, Jaffrey NH.

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Giant Eastern Crane Fly, Scorpion Fly

Mon, 09/18/2017
Large fly with long legs and black triangle pattern on wings, fly with black patterned wings, fly with patterned wings and upwards curled abdomen

Some non-moths that were attracted to the lights at Jaffrey. The Giant Eastern Crane Fly (Pedicia albivitta) were quite common, both in the house and at the moth trap. Later, I saw and caught a fly with intricately patterned wings - it's a Scorpion Fly (Panorpa Sp.) - named for the curled abdomen, but completely harmless.

Jaffrey NH, 2017/09/16

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Large Tolype

Sun, 09/17/2017
grey/white moth on egg carton, grey/white moth on child's hand, George holding grey/white moth on fingertip, grey/white moth fluttering for takeoff on fingertip

We have really quite a lot of the Larch Tolype (Tolype laricis) around - they are small and quite variable, so when I first saw them, I puzzled a bit trying to spot whether Large Tolype (Tolype velleda) was among them. Well, it turns out that when the other one comes along it's quite obviously different.

Large Tolype (Tolype velleda)
Jaffrey NH, 2017/09/17

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Spotted Grass Moth

Sat, 09/16/2017
cream/brown moth on white sheet

This one's small, and I've seen a fair number of them; attracted to lights. I think Spotted Grass Moth (Rivula propinqualis).

Jaffrey, NH, 2017/09/10

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Puta Sallow

Fri, 09/15/2017
brown moth on white sheet

Puta Sallow (Anathix puta)

Jaffrey NH, 2017/09/10

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Greater Red Dart

Wed, 09/13/2017
brownish moth on window sashing

This Greater Red Dart (Abagrotis alternata) was found flying around the kitchen, and was released outdoors after some photos.

Somerville MA, 2017/09/06

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False Hemlock Looper

Tue, 09/12/2017
grey moth on window

I posted a poor quality photo of a False Hemlock Looper (Nepytia canosaria) a while back, because it was the only one I had. Last weekend in Jaffrey I had a much fresher and better lit one, so I no longer have to be content with the previous.

Jaffrey NH, 2017/09/10

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Pale Beauty

Sun, 09/10/2017
pale/green-white moth

Pale Beauty (Campaea perlata) is a common species here; I've been seeing them sporadically for most of the season, but this weekend the temperatures were comparitively cool, and it seemed to be one of the commonest local species in Jaffrey. We even saw one at the summit of Mt. Monadnock. Having seen a few dozen, I'm fairly sure this was the largest one I came across and with the best color - they seem to vary quite a lot.

Jaffrey, NH, 2017/09/09.

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Black-and-Yellow Argiope

Sun, 09/03/2017
Large black and yellow spider, on web, with vegetation and golden rod blossoms.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia) - Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, PA - 2017/09/03.

The immediate surroundings of our hotel aren't good moth hunting (nor is the cool, rainy weather helping), but I bring you a large spider.

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