Bugs

A week ago Patty and I hosted a moth night at the Rancocas Nature Center. Patty gave her moth presentation inside in the nice air conditioned meeting room.

I set up the light and sheet outside in the warm humid air.

I think the twenty plus folks that came out on a school night, with thunderstorms in the area, appreciated our efforts, many staying until well past eleven. (I had been up since four that morning; a work meeting with folks in out London and Vienna offices. So I was a bit sleepy by the end, or we may have stayed even longer.)

The large moths like this Promethea Moth above are always a hit. It is as big as the palm of your hand. But we had plenty of other interesting, if smaller, moths as well.

Maple Looper Moth.

Wood Leopard Moth.

Splendid Palpita.

Horrid Zale.

This one is of the genus Crambidia, but it is almost impossible to identify the species with out dissecting the moth! Something we were not about to do. 

Be sure to bigafy the image to see the little bug with the curly antenna below the moth.

This is a type of underwing moth. And getting an ID from a picture, especially one where the wings are closed, just ain't gonna happen.

Delicate Cycnia.

Bold-feathered Grass Moth.

Moths were not the only bugs attracted to our light.

This Dog-day Cicada was one of many, the others making their presence known by their incessant (along with the katydids) racket!

A variety of Leaf Hoopers visited the sheet. They are colorful tiny creatures, each about the size of a grain of rice.

This is but a sampling of the many different species ...

... which visit whenever we turn fire up the mothing light.

And it is only after taking a photo ...

... that you see the color and structure. They are just too small.

I have no idea as to the species, except for the last. It's a Saddled Leafhopper.

A number of spiders, including the one below, set up shop in the general vicinity.

I suspect they had chosen their web sites well before we set up the light. But I'm sure they appreciated us pulling in so many bugs into the area.

As did the moth-ers, who, like the bugs, crowded around the sheet.

We ended the night with pizza, beer, and wine (thanks John!).

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

Thanks to Ann-Marie Woods, John Maxwell, and Bernie Knaupp, my Mothing Mentors and Bug Buddies, for help identifying these creatures.