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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2015 2:58:18 GMT -8
I collected the first one of the year this morning off my light sheet. Let the Catocala collecting begin. |
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Post by beetlehorn on Jun 8, 2015 4:14:10 GMT -8
It seems things are a bit late this year. As I remember, the same thing happened last year, and I blame the unusually cold winters we had. I collected two Catocalas ( C. illecta, C. coccinata)and have seen about a half dozen so far, mostly C. micronympha, and C. ilia.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 8:35:27 GMT -8
I usually don't start getting any of them until closer to July.
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 8, 2015 17:12:57 GMT -8
I'll be visiting Northern Wisconsin this weekend where I usually get a bunch in late July, but hopefully there will be a few out in June this year. It's early for that far North probably, but fingers crossed, lights at the ready and catocala trap coming along for the ride.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 19:03:45 GMT -8
I'm expecting good results with the leptraps bait trap this season. I'm going to buy another. Two traps are better than one.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 3:23:47 GMT -8
Caught the first catocala in the bait trap last night.
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Post by bugboys3 on Jun 12, 2015 9:11:34 GMT -8
I'll be visiting Northern Wisconsin this weekend where I usually get a bunch in late July, but hopefully there will be a few out in June this year. It's early for that far North probably, but fingers crossed, lights at the ready and catocala trap coming along for the ride. I think you will be a bit early for Catocala in Northern Wisconsin, but you should find a few Sphinx species, and maybe A. luna, H. cecropia, A. polyphemus, and if you're in the right spot H. Columbia. Where in Northern Wisconsin are you going? I have collected this time of year in both Douglas & Iron county. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2015 19:41:02 GMT -8
I've collected 3 in my trap so far here in southern Illinois
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Post by leptraps on Jun 20, 2015 9:49:51 GMT -8
It was a rather slow start to the Season, but before the remnants of Tropical Strom Bill arrived, this picked up considerably. These are all from my Bait Traps in Kentucky which I visited on Thursday and Friday.
Catocala epione
Catocala ilia
Catocala illecta
Catocala sordida
Catocala coccinata
Catocala ultronia
Catocala minuta
Catocala connubialis (Single male)
Catocala grynea
Catocala mycronympha
I also collected seven Synedoida grandirena. It is new species for me. And a spectacular moth.
I have not been able to visit my Bait Traps in southern Indiana. When I checked them on Wednesday there were lots of butterflies and only one Catocala ilia. However, my Light Traps did very well. Five of the ten listed above.
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 21, 2015 6:10:15 GMT -8
I'll be visiting Northern Wisconsin this weekend where I usually get a bunch in late July, but hopefully there will be a few out in June this year. It's early for that far North probably, but fingers crossed, lights at the ready and catocala trap coming along for the ride. I think you will be a bit early for Catocala in Northern Wisconsin, but you should find a few Sphinx species, and maybe A. luna, H. cecropia, A. polyphemus, and if you're in the right spot H. Columbia. Where in Northern Wisconsin are you going? I have collected this time of year in both Douglas & Iron county. I was in Vilas county. I had a great catch of all the eyed Sphinx species in the area, P modesta, a number of other sphinx I have yet to ID, luna, polyphemus, Sthenopis argenteomaculatus (which Evra just helped me ID), and 1 Catocala (which has gray underwings, but I have yet to mount and attempt to ID). So 1 Catocala so far I think, but when I go back in July it's the time of year I catch them in hoards. I did put 2 bait traps out, but got skunked -- except for the flying squirrel that got into one of them and chewed his way out. Flying squirrels are a nuisance in the area there and can surprise one from time to time when sugaring. You never know when a flying squirrel is going to pop onto a tree just above you making for sudden unexpected motion in the dark. Eric |
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Post by bugboys3 on Jun 21, 2015 6:19:44 GMT -8
Eric,
The Sthenopis is a nice catch. My son caught one in Douglas County a few years ago. I am going up that way in about three weeks.
I remember watching flying squirrels above the glow of my light one summer in Adams County. They were zipping back and forth for about an hour. I would imagine it would scare the crap out of you if one landed just above you when checking bait in the dark!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2015 10:51:20 GMT -8
I took 1 catocala off the light sheet last night and 4 out of the bait trap this morning.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 5:33:17 GMT -8
Had between 15-17 individuals of various species in the trap this morning. Most catocala I've ever saw at one time.
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Post by trehopr1 on Jun 22, 2015 12:21:20 GMT -8
A question of idle curiosity jtaylor. Of the 15 or so Catocala you picked up in your bait trap how many were good descent examples (collection worthy)? I have found over the years that getting good descent clean examples for collection is a perplexing affair. I have only sugared for them and of coarse used Merc.Vapor lights. But never used a bait trap. The thought of all those moths flying about for hours in a trap battering themselves and others within the trap brings into question how long to leave such a trap out or at least un-attended.
One can get some very nice clean (wild caught) examples if your right ON the beginnings of a hatch of them. I've had that happen with Catocala ilia, paleogama, epione, and lacrymosa. However, within a couple days of that the returns (on good examples) tend to be drastically less. Maybe, as little as two keepers for every 10 you see. Catocala in general just seem to be very active (like most noctuidae) so they don't stay in good shape for very long. One can't help but think having more than a dozen in a trap at one time is going to leave one with a trap full of trashed moths.
I know bait traps work exceedingly well in their drawing power. And they are great for survey work. But, are the good returns (examples) equal to OR better than a Merc Vap.light ? At least, at a light you can catch em' as they come in and you can DISPATCH them as quickly --- avoiding damage.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 14:54:37 GMT -8
Trehopr1,
I removed the catocala I caught in the bait trap last night. I had 20 of them. 15 of the 20 were collectable. The others had flight damage. I have never had that many come to my light sheet or to sugar bait on trees. The beauty of the bait trap is you can release what isn't collectable. You should give one a try. You won't be disappointed. The moths don't damage themselves after they eat the bait they fly to the top and settle down.
Joe
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