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Even though it's October, we're still doing some fairly vigorous moth collecting around the house. You can tell these are at least somewhat cold adapted, by the fact that they don't really quiet down when you put them in the fridge.
I think it's Bicolored Sallow (Sunira bicolorago); Somerville MA, 10/9, 10/15, 10/19; another sighted and released 10/28.
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Saturday morning George informed me that his heart's desire was to go to the beach. I questioned him a little, and determined that he wished to play in the sand, rather than swim, but that a playground with a sand box would not suffice. Our major errand of the day was to take Monty to the airport, so after doing that, I aimed for Revere beach and found an abundance of free parking, when we got there a little before 5pm. Denton predictably griped both there and back about the distance driven, and his lack of desire to leave the house.
I amused myself gathering moon snail shells, of which there was a huge abundance (I'm used to being able to find a few damaged ones, but not fill a bucket). Of course, they are notably less pretty once they dry out, but satisfying to pick up and hold. Altogether a satisfactory outing.
This weekend's trip to Pine Haven yielded only a single moth. I tried to move him to a better spot (he was on the upper side of the bathroom door frame) but he flew ponderously away once I disturbed him, and settled well out of reach on a tree trunk - I would have liked a crisper photo.
It was on the cold side for camping - it got down to the low 30's both nights - but I would have regretted staying home. I wish I had gotten a walk up the powerline cut, but I did get to go hiking by myself (Mt. Osceola).
I think the moth is Autumnal Moth (Epirrita autumnata). 10/11/2014, Wentworth NH.
George found this moth for me. Well, he found it in the bathroom, reported it to Monty, who told him it would still be there and that he should go to bed. Some hours later, as I was getting ready for bed, I spotted the same moth in the bathroom and stashed it overnight. Quite small, though I didn't measure it.
Common Idia (Idia aemula), Somerville MA, 9/30/2014.
Yesterday evening, I went to campus to attend to a problem (at about 6pm), leaving Monty to get the kids to bed. I returned to find they had found a rather large moth in the kitchen, and had captured it into a container in the fridge for me; George was apparently quite excited. Well, they know what I like, so before taking the kids to school this morning, I got it out and photographed it (with George looking on).
I think this is a Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) though I never saw the yellow underwing part; it's apparently an introduced species here. Somerville MA, 9/28/2014.
We caught this moth in the porch Sunday evening, and I put it in the fridge overnight for some calmer daylight pictures. I think it's a Pale-banded Dart (Agnorisma badinodis). Somerville MA, 9/22/2014.
George found me this little moth, in the house. I took a few pictures (poorly lit) then popped it into a container in the fridge overnight for some better-lit pictures. Weirdly, it seemed perfectly lively even while in the fridge - not the slightest bit slowed by cool temperatures. I chased it around the garden for a while after releasing it, before it settled somewhere I could take pictures.
I think it's Triangle-backed Eucosma (Eucosma dorsisignatana). Somerville MA, 9/18/2014.
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I found this Common Looper (Autographa precationis) in our bathroom as I was getting ready for work this morning. I caught it and took it outside. Somerville MA, 9/17/2014.
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An old friend, the Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus). Somerville MA, 9/12/2014.
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This moth was one I found back in July; I coaxed it onto a tree for its photograph, and the process of moving around a live moth (I had fished it off the wall out of my reach with a stick) caught George's imagination. He's been showing me every moth he finds ever since.
It's an Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana), Wentworth NH, 7/20/2014.
