leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Sept 16, 2017 7:30:40 GMT -8
I have been conducting an inventory of the Lepidoptera at Morgan State Forest in Monroe County and Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, both in Indiana. I found an Actias luna in the leaf litter several feet from my Light Trap. I was surprised when I saw it. The temperature had dropped to 52 degrees that night. Great weather for Papaipema moths, but not for Saturnids. I have never found, observed or collect a Saturnid moth this late in the year north of the Mason Dixon Line. I do not believe or remember finding one this late when I lived in Virginia or Mississippi. All though it had some flight wear, I collected the moth for the record. It currently resides on a spreading board.
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 18, 2017 4:20:31 GMT -8
That is amazing. I got one in late July which was remarkable, but this tops them all.
Chuck
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2017 6:06:43 GMT -8
I also had some late fliers.......saw three female lunas at my sheet in the last week of August.......weird year indeed.
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Post by nightwings on Sept 18, 2017 6:15:25 GMT -8
hmmm,.... climate change?.....hmmm
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Sept 18, 2017 6:33:48 GMT -8
Not a chance, Big Foot is responsible.
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Post by exoticimports on Sept 18, 2017 9:00:28 GMT -8
hmmm,.... climate change?.....hmmm Perhaps. It's getting cooler and wetter. Except that P. cresphontes has moved into the area a few years ago. Until this year. So it's either climate confusion or climate variation. Until the Vikings resettle Greenland, I'm rooting for global warming. Then I'm going to ask why some islands in the South Pacific have fossilized corals and shells well above the surf.
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Post by oehlkew on Sept 19, 2017 14:27:29 GMT -8
Could be someone is rearing them indoors where they get extra hours of light and then is setting out cocoons in the woods, thinking the pupae are in diapause, or just an unusual occurrence. Might have been moved further north by Irma or winds from other storms. Certainly not time for another brood.
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