Winter/Cold Weather Moths 2018/2019

[leptraps]

I have five (5) Bait traps set out. One in my back yard. Two along the North Elkhorn Crek and one in Kleber WMA, Owen County and one in Dr. Riches WMA also in Owen County.

All the Bait Traps are Slotted Pan Type and all baited with apples, sugar and water.

With the overnight temps in the mid-fifties next week, the moths will fly.

[joee30]

Aside from light trapping, what other way can you get winter moths? Can you set out baits for them as well, and how long are they out and about for?

[leptraps]

I have Bait Traps set out 24/7/365. In other words, year round. However, during the cold weather months I watch the weather forecast. As a warm front approaches and the overnight low is above 50°, I check the bait in the traps, adding water and stir the bait.

However, warm days with cold, near or below freezing nights will bring out hibernating butterflies during the day and some moths that may be active before the temperature drops below 50° in the early evening.

Most of the moths are Noctuids, dark gray, black or dark reddish brown.

I am persistent and dedicated and most importantly, retired. I currently have eight (8) Bait Traps, all Slotted Pan Type plus six (6) Kill Type Bait Traps, most a good distance, 50+ miles from my home. I have one Kill Type Bait Trap almost 150+ miles from my home. It is in a very unique habitat. Since 1 Nov 2018, I have collect 48 species of moths and only two (2) species of butterflies in all my traps.

I could do a lot more, however, I know my limits, I know when enough is enough.

The low temp in Scott County, Kentucky was a balmy 18°. That is colder than whale Do Do sinking the the bottom of the Ocean. There is only one thing colder? Can I get a guess or three or five??

[boghaunter1]

Haha... Re: Year round collecting... Kind of amusing about not light trapping or baiting when the temp. drops below 50F. We have many summers up here in Sask. when the warmest nighttime temp. may only break 50F, 3-4 nights from April - Oct.! Average temp. here during the season long collecting season is usually 40-45F. Having said all that though... with the increasingly unpredictable climate worldwide we also occasionally get a few nights of exceptional temps... this last season a few nights broke 70F after midnight! On such exceptional nights any light traps & sheets are absolutely clogged with thousands of tiny green midges (in June) & thousands, upon thousands, of Water Boatmen (May - Aug.). I can easily collect a 5 gal pail of Water Boatmen out of 6 light traps on such extreme nights. Light traps are wonderful for very quickly surveying an area to see what is flying, but specimen quality... (mine are non-killing traps... I absolutely refuse to use kill traps)... can be poor on heavy flight nights. Best quality specimens are almost always those handpicked off sheets & at bait. My 2 cents...

John K.

[leptraps]

I made some light traps a number of years ago that were require "live" catch design. I used a 7.5 gallon pail and filled it with four (4) different size hole and hole pattern sorting screens from .5 to .187 hole sizes.

I base most of my trap design on the temperate areas of the planet. Basically the same area with about 70% of the earth's population. Also about 80% of the earth's wealth.(I could be off by a point or nine or ten.)

I have been to the great North. When they have bugs, they have them by the billions if not trillions! Lots of bugs not much diversity.

[leptraps]

We had a bit of a winter storm here in central Kentucky on Tuesday and Wednesday. And the high temperature went up to a balmy 24°. I had not checked my traps since the day after Thanksgiving. Needless to say there was nothing in virtually any of my bait traps. I only found a single moth, a Noctuid that I have been unable to identify.

That single moth was it. No flies, no wasps or hornets, no other Lep's. Just one lone Noctuid moth. However, we have a warm up coming. Highs in the mid-60's low's in the low 50's.

I was planning to check my Bait Traps in the NF in Rowan, Menifee and Laurel counties today. I think I shall wait until after the warm up.

Momma and I went to the Waffle House in Georgetown yesterday morning. Greasy Steak & Eggs, medium rare and over light, Hash Brown's scattered and soft, Wheat Toast and a Pecan waffle. Washed it all down with lot's of Black Coffee. As we exited the Waffle House I noticed a small Noctuid moth up in the corner of the Entrance Way. It is a Plusiinae. It is currently on a spreading board.

And finally, I took Momma to Physical Therapy yesterday. The location is in a complex of buildings. The landscaping includes 50+ good size European Birch Tree's planted as ornamentals. I took a walk around the complex and found two A. polyphemus and a single H. Cecropia. I saw many more out of my reach. I shall return Sunday afternoon when the complex is vacant and I can have the place to myself and use my poles.

Not bad for a cold November day.

[leptraps]

I returned to the Medical/Office complex Sunday morning after church. I collected sixteen (16) A. polyphemus and three (3) H. Cecropia. I also visited a small shopping plaza across the road and collected two more H. Cecropia. I decided not to collect any of the A. polyphemus. I saw at least a dozen.

The temperature on Sunday was 68° with an overnight low of 53°. I am off to check my bait traps.

More later.

[leptraps]

Well, I made the rounds, I should have stayed home and spread some moths. There was "absolutely" nothing but a few flies.

The current temperature is 36°. I will sleep in a little while longer in the morning.

[leptraps]

The high temperature on Saturday was 62° and the low last night was 51°. I juiced up the Bait Traps Saturday afternoon.

Just prior to going to church I checked the Bait Trap in my back yard. No moths and a single Nymphalis antiopa.

We had over an inch of rain Saturday night and more early AM today. North Elkhorn Creek is out of its banks. I must wait for the creek to go down so I can get to my other traps. Probably tomorrow.

[Paul K]

Hello Leroy

I sent email to you couple of days ago in regards Sesiidae lures.

No rush Sir, when ever you have time in between traps and Waffle House, just want to make sure you received an email.

Paul

[joee30]

Dec 16, 2018 9:13:28 GMT -8 Paul K said:

Hello Leroy

I sent email to you couple of days ago in regards Sesiidae lures.

No rush Sir, when ever you have time in between traps and Waffle House, just want to make sure you received an email.

Paul

You can also check out Great Lakes IPM for their list of lures. Will be ordering some around february. When do sesiids normally come out? Spring or early summer?

[leptraps]

First warm days in the Spring I have most of my Pheromone Traps set out. There are numerous early fliers in Kentucky. Mid May thru late August with June as the peak month. That is here in Kentucky. When I lived in South Florida I had them out year round.

[leptraps]

On Monday, 4 February 2019 the weather was about to change from cold freezing temperatures to more early spring like conditions with day time high temps in the upper 60 's and over night lows in the upper 50's. I have a Bait Trap (Slotted Pan type) that hangs in the Black Locust tree 24-7-365. It has been hanging in that tree for six (6) years. With the onset of warmer temps I replaced the bait (Apples & Peaches). Tuesday morning I checked the trap, I had several flies, a dozen or so Hypena scabra. I also had three (3) Lithophane moths. Lithophane patefacta (2) and L. petulca (1).

The warm temperatures would hold overnight on Tuesday. Wednesday morning temp was 66°. I was up early and checked the trap. There were 16 Lithophane moths, dozens of Hypena scabra. There were also a couple of hundred flies. The Lithophane moths were mostly singletons and consisted of six (6) species. Lithophane patefacta, L. petulca, L. bethunei, L. innominata, L. hemina, and L. signosa.



Prior to Wednesday night Dinner at church I traveled to Kleber WMA and set out two more Bait Traps slotted pan type. And another along the North Elkhorn Creek in Scott County along US460. These locations are in heavy forest more suitable for Lithophane moths.

I was surprised by presence of these moths in the Bait Trap in my yard. I collect several Lithophane moths every winter in the Bait Trap. However, six species in one night. Three of the species where new to the list of moths I have collected/observed in my yard.

It is currently raining. Once the rain stops, I will visit my Bait Traps. More later.

[leptraps]

It has been cold, wet and ugly for almost a week. I had not checked my Bait Traps in more than a week. I checked the trap in my yard and it had one Lithophane moth and a few flies. My first Bait Trap along the North Elkhorn Creek had several flies and a large female Polygonia comma which I let fly. The second trap along the creek had two Lithophane and one Feralia comstocki. All four moths are now on spreading boards.

However, no sooner had I turned to hike back to my car that it began to rain. And did I get soaked.

By mid week the high temps will be above 55° and the low temp in the mid 40°. I may set out several more Bait Traps tomorrow.

Another two or three weeks and spring will be upon some of us.

[leptraps]

The weather in Scott County Kentucky became more spring like. The high temp was 61° with an overnight low of 56°. When I checked my Bait Traps I only had 3 specimens of Lithophane innominata. I also had a stunning female of Metaxaglaea viatica.

The low temp tonight will be in the mid-60° degree range.

While out today I freshened up all of my Bait Traps.