|
Post by foxxdoc on Nov 12, 2019 12:21:20 GMT -8
food source for cold weather moths. some flowers left ? or tree sap and moisture sugars on bark ?
tom
|
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Nov 12, 2019 18:26:04 GMT -8
To be very honest, I assume tree sap from wounds or remaining fruit which has not fallen, or, fruit that has fallen and remains intact and begins to rot.
I use more apples and sometimes only apples, no bananas. However, peaches and persimmons. Persimmons, are the absolute best bait in North America. Do they have persimmons in in Europe?
Speaking of great baits, Papayas. I have not had any luck with them in this temperate area. However, in South Florida, they are excellent, especially when mixed with bananas.
Here I sit in northern Ohio watching the snow fall and mounting winter/Cold weather moths. And dreaming of Florida.
|
|
|
Post by foxxdoc on Nov 13, 2019 11:35:46 GMT -8
80 degrees yesterday here near tampa. we do have wild persimmon here. and of course store bought Japanese persimmons. which are commonly grown here too.
any thoughts about temperature and non feeding ? or ability to digest ?
bush jasmine really brings in the months at night.
tom.
snow in Cleveland ?
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Nov 13, 2019 12:43:38 GMT -8
We received 4 inches in Aurora. More than a foot in the snow belt. Until the weather gets mild and daytime temps 55°+ for a day or two. Only then Winter/Cold Weather moths fly.
|
|
|
Post by rayrard on Nov 13, 2019 17:23:36 GMT -8
I put out bait Monday, which was 60 at dusk and dropped to 48. I had about 10 species, but mostly common fall stuff like Mythimna and Sunira. Only a few classic winter overwinterers like Eupsilia vinulenta and 2 Lithophane grotei. Also a couple Zale which seems late in CT.
|
|
|
Post by foxxdoc on Nov 14, 2019 7:55:54 GMT -8
60 degrees this a.m. found Xylophanes teres and Manduca quinquimaculata on wall inside my stables. just hanging out.
still lots of flowers here.
tom
|
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Nov 25, 2019 7:46:41 GMT -8
I visited all my Bait Traps this AM. There is an advancing warm front with a high temp of 61° on Wednesday. Added/replaced bait and added water and stirred the bait.
I collected the largest Lithophane moth. Almost 50% larger than any Lithophane moth I have ever collected: Lithomoia germana. It is a new species for me.
This warm up could be extremely interesting.
I encounter a striking Blue Jay this AM while pumping gas. Not only was it large, the bright blue color made the bird even more striking.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Dec 3, 2019 17:13:28 GMT -8
The weather in North East Ohio has been cold with high temps in the mid to upper 30's and low temps in the lower 30's to the 20's. There is currently an inch or two of snow on the ground. I checked my Bait Traps on Sunday after church. Each trap had several moths, nothing worth mentioning.
Today, Tuesday I traveled to Wooster, Ohio to attend a funeral. I stopped at a Speed-Way for Gas in Burbank. As I walked into the store to drain the dragon, I scanned the Walls and Windows for moths. I noticed a brownish moth in the upper corner of the window molding. I promptly got my tweezers and killing jar. I needed a plastic milk crate to reach it. I caught it in my tweezer and then into the jar.
After returning home I spread the moth. It took me a while to stick a name on it. Homoglaea hircina. That is a first for me.
I managed to get the attention of the store manager who came to check me out. I showed him the moth I collected. He told me to come in the summer if I wanted moths and Beetles, the store lights attract them by the millions.
I walked around the store and in back of the store was a large wooded area and some old fields to the Southeast. I made a note in my log book. It is a rural location. I may set a Bait Trap in the woods.
|
|
|
Post by gaspipe on Dec 4, 2019 11:55:28 GMT -8
You are a moth addict. They are not even safe in a bathroom during the winter !
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Dec 4, 2019 18:42:37 GMT -8
Now Wait a minute. Do you know how little we know about moths and the few people who actively collect/study them. We know so little about moths. Granted, we know a great deal about Saturnidae and Sphingidae. And there is some interest in Heliothinae. But in all the remaining families, very little.
I have the advantage of traps. I collected tens of thousands of moths each year and I am always finding something new that I have never encountered before.
And I assume many of you read my reports of my collecting activities. I am no expert, not by a long shot. But I definitely like to get among them.
Or would you rather I keep the reports of my activities off Insectnet.
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 5, 2019 0:09:44 GMT -8
Leroy, I think that gaspipe was being humorous. Please do continue to inform us all. Your reports are very interesting, even to a non-moth collector half way round the world like me. Adam.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Dec 5, 2019 5:11:23 GMT -8
I am awful hard to offend. Most people are envious of my stunning good looks and all of my wonderful charm. I honestly believe the reason many on this site do not post an image\mugshot is they are plug ugly.
I enjoy life. Being an ardent Lepidopterist has it's monuments. There are those who are interested and ask questions. I always take time to explain what I am doing. Here in Aurora, Ohio I am known as the Moth Man. I have a Bait Trap hanging from a Black Locusts tree in my back yard. When I check my trap the neighbors will came to visit and see what that thing is hanging from my Black Locusts tree.
I will remove specimens from the trap and show them a living moth. They are always amazed.
Even the waitresses at the Waffle Houses in Georgetown, Kentucky refer to me as the Moth Man.
And remember, I have one thing going for me that most of you do not. I am retired.
Also, some really good news for me personally. There are Waffle Houses in NE Ohio.
|
|
|
Post by gaspipe on Dec 5, 2019 17:14:35 GMT -8
Now Wait a minute. Do you know how little we know about moths and the few people who actively collect/study them. We know so little about moths. Granted, we know a great deal about Saturnidae and Sphingidae. And there is some interest in Heliothinae. But in all the remaining families, very little. I have the advantage of traps. I collected tens of thousands of moths each year and I am always finding something new that I have never encountered before. And I assume many of you read my reports of my collecting activities. I am no expert, not by a long shot. But I definitely like to get among them. Or would you rather I keep the reports of my activities off ensectnet. Easy big guy it was an attempt at humor. No offense please. With your great sense of humor I’d thought you’d get the joke. Sorry keep up with your great posts . Merry Christmas
|
|
|
Post by foxxdoc on Dec 9, 2019 11:07:33 GMT -8
the lep stories are great. there is nothing too trivial. you remind me of my own experiences.
tom
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Dec 9, 2019 18:39:30 GMT -8
I visited the Ohio State University Insect Collection as part of the Annual "Identification Day" by the Ohio Lepidopterists Society. Also, the Society's collection of Lepidoptera is also housed at OSU.
I identified about 100+ moths. I also took about 30+ moths home with me to confirm Identifications with my collection.
Included in the 30+ moths I took home were 9 Sesiidae. All nine specimens were field pinned. Upon returning home I placed the in my relaxer and early this AM I spread those I could and the others are soaking in Ethyl Acetate.
Six of the nine specimens were Synanthedon pictipes. All males. A single male Vitacea scepsiformis. This was some what of a surprise. I have collected numerous specimens in Kentucky in Pheromone Traps with #103 lured. The vague data, 19 May 94, Vinton, Ohio. I assume the "Vinton" is a county. However, it is a pest on Grapes and is an extremely common pest.
Two of the rather small specimens are Synanthedon scitula. They are greased and I have them soaking (degreasing) in Eythel Acetate. One specimen was collected in 1957. The other in 1999 in a Malaise Trap in Holmes County. I am not sure I can salvage the latter specimen.
The last specimen is Synanthedon rubrofascia. It is missing all but one leg. The abdomen is well "rubbed" and greased. It is currently soaking in Ethyl Acetate.
More latter.
|
|