Winter Moths & Colias Eurytheme

[leptraps]

In Kentucky we have had two warm night with the low temp above 50 Degrees (F) and tonight the forecasted low is 62 degrees (F). I set out two light traps on Monday night in an old growth forest and the temp bottomed out at 49 Degrees (F), I collected 38 specimens representing 7 species of Lithophane and two species of Eupsilia. There was also several specimens of Metaxoglaea semitaria.

I set out the traps at the same locations last night, the temp bottomed out at 55 Degrees (F). Both traps had over a 100 moths. I collected 16 species of Lithophane, 5 species of Eupsilia. 2 species of Metaxoglaea and 3 specimens of IDK (I Don't Know). All of these are winter moths.

I repeated the effort tonight with the addition of two more light traps. The temp is forecasted to bottom out at 62 Degrees (F). There a cold front, ( Anapproaching lower pressure weather mass) moving SE and will arrive in the area by 1PM on 4 Dec. 21. Rain (2 to 3 inches before Friday night changing over to snow. The forecasted low temp for Thursday is 22 Degrees (F) and 17 Degrees (F) Friday Night. This should be a banner night.

I also have out 8 Kill Type Bait Traps in six different habitats in two different states (KY & IN). I will check them all tomorrow morning if possible, or, once the cold front passes.

Also, while setting out my last light trap today, I crossed an old field and scared up a Colias eurytheme. I did not have my net, however, once the light trap was set, I returned to my truck, got my net and returned to the old field. I saw five more Colias eurytheme of which I collected two, a male and female. Both were dark green on the underside. I have reared thousands of Colias eurytheme (2002 to 2004) and never produced this dark green cold weather morph. I kept the female alive and she is in my rearing enclosure along side my garden shed. This is not the first time I have attempted to rear them through the seasons. I would like to know what causes the cold weather morph to have the dark green coloration?

Is there anyone interested in Winter Moths?

More tomorrow.

[boghaunter1]

Darker ventral HW colouration, in early spring & late fall gen., of many Colias spp. (C. philodice in particular here in central SK) are commonly observed. The dark colouration absorbs sunlight/heat more quickly & allows the b-fly to warm up & to fly at lower temps both at more northern latitudes & at higher elevations (mtns.). Simple exposure to cooler outside temps by the chrysalis, seems to be the cause, ie. environmental influence vs any genetic reason. Similar, perhaps, to many spp. of melanistic ab. butterflies being artificially produced by refrigerating the chrysalis (at critical time right after pupation) & seen more & more for sale on the internet these days...

It would be interesting to rear out any eggs possibly laid? of that dark female, under indoor, warmer, "normal" summer temps to see the results...

John K.

[leptraps]

In 2002 I began a rearing effort to learn what or how the dark green “Winter” form of Colias eurytheme develops. I reared thousands of Colias eurytheme and Colias philodice. Never did get the green winter form. However, I learned some amazing things.

1.) The White form of the female: The vast majority of the off springs of a typical orange female of C. eurytheme will either be all orange or all white. Only one or two be the other color. Same is true for C. philodice. I never reared a white male.

2.) There are yellow orange variations of Colias eurthyeme. I always assumed they were hybrids of eurytheme X philodice. I could never obtain a pairing of eurytheme X philodice, either way Male eurytheme X female philodice. Or vise versa. However, I learned that the host plant will cause the coloration of the adults. C. eurytheme prefers Alfalfa (Hence forth the common name: Alfalfa Butterfly) which results in the bright orange form. In late summer until the first frost, the Alfalfa ages and the chemical make up of the plant changes and the large dark orange form of mid-September occurs. C. eurytheme will readily accept White Sweet Clover which results in the “washed out” orange females and dull orange male. C. eurytheme will readily accept Red Clover. This results in yellow orange males and females, some more yellow than orange.

3.) If you want aberrations? Once the larva pupate, let the chrysalis harden for 24 hours and place them in a refrigerator for a couple of days then remove them and the results are amazing. Never got the green winter form.

I wrote an article on my Colias rearing project which was published the Newsletter of the Southern Lepidopterists Society. Here is a link to the article. It a PDF file and will print on 8.5 X 11 paper. www.southernlepsoc.org/pdf/Vol_25_no_2.pdf. Scroll down to the color plates, Insert A & B.

I am retired now, maybe I should try this again next year.

[leptraps]

Some times the best laid plans of men and Lepidoperists just don't work out. The night of Wednesday, 4 December was absolutely perfect for winter moths. The low temperature was a balmy 69 degrees. The air was juicy (High humidity) and a slight wind. I awoke Thursday morning with visions of full traps, hundreds of winter moths. A quick stop at the Waffle House for breakfast (Greasy Steak & Eggs, Hash Browns, Whole Wheat Toast and numerous cups of black coffee) and I was on my way.

I arrived at the first location where I set out two light traps. The approaching cold front was beginning to arrive, the wind picked up and a slow drizzle began to fall. Once I had the traps back at the truck, I opened each, not 20 moths between them. Four species of Lithiphane and one Eupsilia. That was it. I also had some beetles. Beetles in December, that was a first. The rain let up as I drove to the second location. I retrieved the first trap and was just about half way to the second trap when the heavens opened up and down it came. A rain of Biblical proportions. As the Mayor of Mount Idy would say: It’s a rainin' harder than a double ####ed cow pissin on a flat rock". The creeks were rising and the deer were heading for higher ground and Leroy put the traps in the truck and headed for home.

Once I was home, dry and comfortable again, I opened the two traps and there were even fewer moths. Although a did manage a Metaxaglaea that I cannot identify and one Feralia major that was almost solid black. I normally find these in late January or early February. All this effort for 31 moths and nine ugly black beetles.

However, I also checked one of my Kill Type Bait traps. I have several hundred moths to sort through.

More later.

[anthony]

Thank you for sharing this.It is all over here is southern Oregon -11c last night but nice to know the hobby soldiers on in other places and nice to read about it.Good collecting to all.

[boghaunter1]

Hi Leroy,

Thanks for posting additional info in your PDF... fascinating stuff. I have only tried refrigerating Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopia) fresh chrysalis on 2 occasions in the distant past & haven't had much luck... only severely crippled adults emerge that can't spread their, still normal patterned wings. Precise timing, correct low temp & duration .. & some luck needed, it seems.

Early dark spring gen. of C. philodice appear around the 15-20th of May here in central SK; they are never very common & are soon replaced in mid-late June with the normal, larger yellow summer fm; another, slightly larger again, normal summer fm appears in July-early Aug. & then if weather is nice (no frost) another small dark gen. in mid Sept. (again in very small numbers). Many yrs. I never see any individuals of the early spring & late fall generations.

John K.

[rayrard]

I put out a bucket prior to that cold front in CT and got only 5 moths (2 Bruce Spanworm, Eupsilia vinulenta, Eupsilia morrisoni, and a Suniro bicolorago).

If anyone could figure out exactly two seemingly identical nights (temp, humidity, moon) can be bad for one trap and awesome the next night, they would help collectors out immensely for time/effort calculation!

[leptraps]

Not only did I have 4 Light Traps out on that night, I have a total of 8 Kill Type Bait Traps set out for the winter. I checked one the last warm night, I visited the other 7 over the next 4 days. Two Traps had some moths (20 or less), about 2 miles away I had another with none. The next two had 10 moths at best and the 6th Trap (This one and the next where out the longest before being checked) had over 200 moths. The 7th trap less than 10 and the last trap had one moth. The bait was the same, different habitats and some were miles apart. I have always assumed it is the population.

While out in eastern Colorado the last week in August. I found a Dune area south of Fort Morgan that was in full flower. As I have been known to say: It smelled of Moths. When we collected the trap the next morning, it was spectacular. Maybe 850 or 900 moths. Two nights later, same spot, flowers galore, same hot still night, 200 moths at best. If I could answer the quest WHY, I could win the lottery every night.

I am sure of one thing: Whenever you go collecting, you never know how good it will be until the end of the day.

[evra]

In southern AZ one night a few years ago in the Pena Blanca area I saw two groups of collectors, one at the White Rock Campground and the other in the campground in the actual canyon, both were running 175 watt MV lights. The collectors at White Rock had maybe only 10-20% of what the guys in Pena Blanca Canyon had. The two places are only about 500-700 yards from each other, an easy 10 minute walk down a gravel road. Also it's not just that one night either. I've done a few nights in White Rock over a couple year span and I never did as well as in Pena Blanca Canyon. It's surprising that being off by just a little bit can make such a big impact, but it does.

Even though they don't look like much, Lithophanes are nice, and tough to get. That's really impressive for one night during the winter.