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virginica</I>.</SPAN></DIV><BR&g Hi Chris, Sorry,I totally misspelled the first name of the Skeletonizer. It should be Grapeleaf Skeletonizer(Harrisoina americana). I've been using Bugguide.net as a reference for this sighting and the pics discriptions on that webpage lead me to my conclusion. Fritz McEvoy ----Original Message Follows---- From: Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Yellow-collared Scape Moth invasion Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 09:32:13 -0300 Hi Fritz, On 8-Aug-06, at 6:42 PM, Fritz McEvoy wrote: >Hi Chris & All, > When I first examined this moth I compared it to the Ctenucha as well >as Graspella Skeletonizer. What species is this? In Nova Scotia, we only have three species in this subfamily, Ctenucha, Ciisseps, and Lycomorpha pholusDrury which looks quite different. >The moths here have a more pointed forewing and both wings appear somewhat >translucent. I can't see a difference between the fore and hind wing >colors.The collar in Cisseps has three parts in a triangle and the >Ctenucha only one between the eyes. There is no bright blue on the thorax >behind the collar although the thorax has a bluish tinge. The thorax of >the Ctenucha is thicker than the Cisseps and this is closer to the moths >seen here. I'm not an expert of this group but as far as I'm aware the diagnostic difference between Cisseps fulvicollis and Ctenucha virginica is that the former species has an large and prominent translucent patch on the hindwing (this is very obvious). I don't think that there are diagnostic differences in the orange collar, or the bluish tinge or thickness of the pronotum. It sounds to me like your specimens are Ctenucha virginica. > The Skeletonizer was dismissed because it perches with wings >outstretched and this moth has closed wings when landed. Whatever this is, I don;t think its found in Nova Scotia. > If you have questions or other things I can look for let me know. >I'll send up some specimens with my next beetle shipment. All the best. Great: thanks! Chris > Fritz >----Original Message Follows---- >From: Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> >Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Yellow-collared Scape Moth invasion >Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 17:14:04 -0300 > >Hi Fritz, > >On 8-Aug-06, at 3:27 PM, Fritz McEvoy wrote: > >>Hi all, >> Over the last week the valley has been deluged with Yellow- collared >>Scape Moth-Hodges 8267(Cisseps Fulvicollis). They cover every flower >>especially Ragweed and Goldenrod,often dozens on a single flower head. >>Although most are black and orange I have observed some that have >>yellow collars and a few that look beige.They seem to be an interesting >>species,a wasp mimic and nectar feeder, the proboscis is almost 1/2 the >>moths length. Is this a local phenomenon or are they widespread in the >>province? All the best. > >Are you certain that you are seeing Cisseps fulvicollis (Hubner) >(Yellow-collared Scape Moth) rather than Ctenucha virginica Esper >(Virginia Ctenucha)? Both species are present in Nova Scotia, however, >the Virginia Ctenucha is normally the common species. Ferguson (1955) >doesn't mention C. fulvicollis as occurring on Cape Breton, whereas C. >virginica is definitely common there. The hindwing of the former species >is translucent as in: > >http://www.boldsystems.org/pics/LGSMB/DNA-ATBI-1157.jpg > >Whereas the hindwing of the latter species is not as in: > >http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/newslides/027073074001bp.jpg > >In any event, the Virginia Ctenucha can, indeed, be exceedingly common. >Ferguson (1955) mentions that they can come in enormous numbers to light. >The larvae feed on grasses, irises, & sedges. > >Cheers! > >Chris > > >> Fritz McEvoy >> Sunrise Valley CB (near Dingwall) >> > >_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. _. >_. >Christopher Majka - Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History >1747 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3A6 >(902) 424-6435 Email <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> >_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. _. >_. > _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. _. Christopher Majka - Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3A6 (902) 424-6435 Email <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. _.
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