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--Apple-Mail-124--459518387 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Bev, On 11-Jun-10, at 10:32 AM, bev wigney wrote: > Although the past few evenings haven't been the best for moths, I > have seen a couple of interesting species. > Last night, there was a Silver-spotted Ghost Moth (Stenophis > argenteomaculatus) - also called the Alder Root Borer Moth. It's a > new moth to me. In the past, I've photographed Stenophis thule back > in Ontario, a moth which seems to have few records in Canada. I > don't yet know if last night's moth is more commonly seen. Anyhow, > the moth was of good size and nicely marked. Here are a couple of > photos. > http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469202 > http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469203 There are records of this species from all over mainland Nova Scotia north to southern Cape Breton, but it is not frequently observed. The larvae feed on and bore into the roots of alder trees, particularly those that are submerged in water, so there should be no shortage of food plants for them in Nova Scotia. The name "ghost" moth derives from the fact that adults are quite short lived (perhaps a reason that they are seldom observed), and, like ghosts, do not require nourishment and do not feed. N.B. Note that the correct spelling of the name is Sthenopis argenteomaculatus (Harris). It's worth keeping an eye out for two other species in the Hepialidae (ghost moths) that also occur in Nova Scotia, Hepialus gracilis Grote and Hepialus mustelinus Packard, both of which are also broadly distributed in Nova Scotia. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=36.97 > On the evening of June 8th, I had just a few moths. Among them was > the first Wild Cherry Sphinx (Sphinx drupiferarum) to show up at my > place this season. This is an image of the moth. > http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469204 The larvae of this species feed on wild cherry, as well as a number of other trees such as apple, hackberry and lilac. > Another of the larger moths that evening was a Peppered Moth (Biston > betularia). I've had them back in Ontario, but not until the first > week of July. > http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469194 Most of the records in Nova Scotia are in July, but there is one as early as May 29, and there are occasional records from throughout June, so some do emerge early. N.B. This large geometrid has a rather prominent place in the history of evolutionary biology. It was made famous by the late H.B.D. Kettlewell, who investigated the evolutionary development of "industrial melanism" in Great Britain employing this moth. In industrial areas of the county, where soot from smokestacks darkened the bark of trees, the melanistic (dark) form of this moth (the "carbonaria" form) became prevalent. The typical "salt and pepper" colur morph of Biston betularia (Linnaeus), such as is seen in Bev's photograph, is prevent in unpolluted areas where the moths shelter during daylight hours on the trunks of trees where there is an abundant growth of lichens. This cryptic colouration allows them to escape detection by birds that prey upon them. For those who are further interested, there is a marvelous essay on this subject on the Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution > I've just added several new moth images to the gallery I'm working > on for this site (Round Hill). Some were night and some day > sightings. A couple have not yet been ID'd (they are at the end of > the gallery). http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469201 This is Crambus laqueatellus Cramer, the so-called "Eastern Grass- veneer moth", which despite its name actually feeds on mosses. The genus Crambus is a very species-rich group in Nova Scotia (16 species are found here), many of which have a rather similar appearance. For more information on C. laqueatellus see: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=5378 > Chris Majka has given me some much appreciated assistance in > confirming or IDing some of these moths. > http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/round_hill_moths > Hopefully, the next few nights will be warmer and better for seeing > moths. > > Bev Wigney > Round Hill, N.S. > N44.46.23, W065.24.18 (WGS84) Cheers! Chris Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada * Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum | http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm * Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin | http://www.coleopsoc.org/ * Subject Editor: ZooKeys | http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index * Associate Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society | http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html * Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera | http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html "Whenever I hear of the capture of rare beetles, I feel like an old war-horse at the sound of a trumpet." - Charles Darwin --Apple-Mail-124--459518387 Content-Type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Bev,<div><br><div><div>On = 11-Jun-10, at 10:32 AM, bev wigney wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: = rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; = font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; = line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; = white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div><div style=3D"margin-top: = 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; = font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; color: rgb(0, = 0, 0); "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Although the past few evenings = haven't been the best for moths, I have seen a couple of interesting = species. <span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Last = night, there was a Silver-spotted Ghost Moth (Stenophis = argenteomaculatus) - also called the Alder Root Borer Moth. It's a = new moth to me. In the past, I've photographed Stenophis thule = back in Ontario, a moth which seems to have few records in Canada. = I don't yet know if last night's moth is more commonly seen. = Anyhow, the moth was of good size and nicely marked. Here are a = couple of photos.<br><a target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469202">http://www.pbase.c= om/crocodile/image/125469202</a><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><a target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469203">http://www.pbase.c= om/crocodile/image/125469203</a><br></div></div></div></span></blockquote>= <div><br></div><div>There are records of this species from all over = mainland Nova Scotia north to southern Cape Breton, but it is not = frequently observed. The larvae feed on and bore into the roots of alder = trees, particularly those that are submerged in water, so there should = be no shortage of food plants for them in Nova Scotia. The name "ghost" = moth derives from the fact that adults are quite short lived (perhaps a = reason that they are seldom observed), and, like ghosts, do not require = nourishment and do not feed.</div><div><br></div><div>N.B. Note that the = correct spelling of the name is <i>St<font class=3D"Apple-style-span"= = color=3D"#7E0007">h</font>enopis argenteomaculatus</i> (Harris).= </div><div><br></div><div>It's worth keeping an eye out for two other = species in the Hepialidae (ghost moths) that also occur in Nova = Scotia, <i>Hepialus gracilis</i> Grote = and <i>Hepialus mustelinus </i>Packard, both of which are = also broadly distributed in Nova Scotia.</div><div><br></div><div><a = href=3D"http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=3D36.= 97">http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=3D36.97</= a></div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><div style=3D"margin-top: = 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; = font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; color: rgb(0, = 0, 0); "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">On the evening of June 8th, I = had just a few moths. Among them was the first Wild Cherry Sphinx = (Sphinx drupiferarum) to show up at my place this season. This is = an image of the moth.<br><a target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469204">http://www.pbase.c= om/crocodile/image/125469204</a><br></div></div></div></blockquote><div><b= r></div><div>The larvae of this species feed on wild cherry, as well as = a number of other trees such as apple, hackberry and = lilac.</div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><div style=3D"margin-top: = 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; = font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; color: rgb(0, = 0, 0); "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Another of the larger moths that = evening was a Peppered Moth (Biston betularia). I've had them back in = Ontario, but not until the first week of July.<br><a target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469194">http://www.pbase.c= om/crocodile/image/125469194</a><br></div></div></div></blockquote><div><b= r></div><div>Most of the records in Nova Scotia are in July, but there = is one as early as May 29, and there are occasional records from = throughout June, so some do emerge early.</div><div><br></div><div>N.B. = This large geometrid has a rather prominent place in the history of = evolutionary biology. It was made famous by the late H.B.D. Kettlewell, = who investigated the evolutionary development of "industrial melanism" = in Great Britain employing this moth. In industrial areas of the county, = where soot from smokestacks darkened the bark of trees, the melanistic = (dark) form of this moth (the "carbonaria" form) became = prevalent. </div><div><br></div><div>The typical "salt and pepper" = colur morph of <i>Biston betularia</i> (Linnaeus), such as is seen = in Bev's photograph, is prevent in unpolluted areas where the moths = shelter during daylight hours on the trunks of trees where there is an = abundant growth of lichens. This cryptic colouration allows them to = escape detection by birds that prey upon = them. </div><div><br></div><div>For those who are further = interested, there is a marvelous essay on this subject on the = Wikipedia:</div><div><br></div><div><a = href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution">http://en.wi= kipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution</a></div><div><br></div><br><bloc= kquote type=3D"cite"><div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'times new = roman', 'new york', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; ">I've just added several new moth images to the = gallery I'm working on for this site (Round Hill). Some were = night and some day sightings. A couple have not yet been ID'd = (they are at the end of the gallery). = </div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><a = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/125469201">http://www.pbase.c= om/crocodile/image/125469201</a></div><div><br></div><div>This = is <i>Crambus laqueatellus</i> Cramer, the so-called "Eastern = Grass-veneer moth", which despite its name actually feeds on mosses. The = genus <i>Crambus</i> is a very species-rich group in Nova Scotia (16 = species are found here), many of which have a rather similar appearance. = For more information on <i>C. laqueatellus</i> = see:</div><div><br></div><div><a = href=3D"http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=3D537= 8">http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=3D5378</a>= </div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: = 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; ">Chris Majka has given me some much appreciated = assistance in confirming or IDing some of these moths. <span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><a target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/round_hill_moths">http://www.pbase.= com/crocodile/round_hill_moths</a><br>Hopefully, the next few nights = will be warmer and better for seeing moths.<br><br>Bev Wigney<br>Round = Hill, N.S.<br>N44.46.23, W065.24.18 = (WGS84)</div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div><div><div><div><div = align=3D""><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Helvetica" = size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; = ">Cheers!</span></font></div></div><div align=3D""><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; = "><br></span></font></div><div align=3D""><font class=3D"Apple-style-span"= face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">Chris</span></font></div> = </div></div><br><br><div apple-content-edited=3D"true"> <span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: = rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; = font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; = letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: = auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: = normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: = normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: = normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: = normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: = normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: = normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: = normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: = normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: = normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: = normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: = normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: = normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: = normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: = normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: = normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; = ">Christopher Majka <<a = href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca">c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca</a>> = | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada</span></font></div><div><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><br></span></font></div><div><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum = | <a = href=3D"http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm">http://museum.gov.n= s.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm</a></span></font></div><div><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin = | <a = href=3D"http://www.coleopsoc.org/">http://www.coleopsoc.org/</a></span></f= ont></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Subject Editor: = ZooKeys | <a = href=3D"http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index">http://p= ensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index</a></span></font></div><d= iv><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Associate = Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society | <a = href=3D"http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html">http://www.acadianes.org/jo= urnal.html</a></span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; = ">* Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera | <a = href=3D"http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html= ">http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html</a></= span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; = "><br></span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = size=3D"3"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><i>"Whenever I = hear of the capture of rare beetles, I feel like an old war-horse = at the sound of a trumpet."</i></span></font><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>- = Charles Darwin</span></font></div></div></span></div></span></div></s= pan></div></span></div></span></div></span> </div><br></body></html>= --Apple-Mail-124--459518387--
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