Thanks, and I'm glad you enjoy them! Please share if you find any moths/moth caterpillars!
General Neko's Moth-Watching Thread
- Thread starter Nekoban Ryo
- Start date
Profile view of a Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth:
I also spotted my ittiest bittiest bagworm yet (I'm guessing early instar):
I also spotted my ittiest bittiest bagworm yet (I'm guessing early instar):
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My flashiest caterpillar so far this year: the Powdered Dagger Moth caterpillar!
Really hoping that the tiny insect and pellet on its back (seen in pic #1) aren't parasitic. I didn't see either on it today (when I took pic #2).
Really hoping that the tiny insect and pellet on its back (seen in pic #1) aren't parasitic. I didn't see either on it today (when I took pic #2).
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Wish I could've captured the pink hues better before it flew away, but I'd been waiting for a Pink-Shaded Fern Moth! 
Sycamore Webworm Moth
Redbud Leaffolder Moth
Walnut Shoot Moth
Black-Dotted Glyph
Pitch Twig Moth
Filbertworm Moth—check out those metallic bands!
Another Xanthotype-genus moth, possibly the Attentive Crocus Soldier Moth
Redbud Leaffolder Moth
Walnut Shoot Moth
Black-Dotted Glyph
Pitch Twig Moth
Filbertworm Moth—check out those metallic bands!
Another Xanthotype-genus moth, possibly the Attentive Crocus Soldier Moth
These new pictures are some of my favourite yet! I love the Pitch Twig Moth and the Walnut Shoot Moth, but the Professor Sycamore Webworm Moth really speaks to me.
Also, great quality on the images, what camera do you use?
EDIT: Found this beauty today, a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar! It has blue spots and red spots on its spine.
(Hang on, how do you share files from a photo gallery? I want to post this beautiful caterpillar. Maybe I should do it from Google Drive?
Also, great quality on the images, what camera do you use?
EDIT: Found this beauty today, a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar! It has blue spots and red spots on its spine.
(Hang on, how do you share files from a photo gallery? I want to post this beautiful caterpillar. Maybe I should do it from Google Drive?
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I use a FujiFilm FinePix S4500, usually on Auto: Macro (with flash) at night or Auto: Super Macro or Shutter Priority: Macro (with +1/3 flash) during the day. Granted, if you're wanting to get into macro photography, there are other cameras better suited for it.
I share mine via Imgur.
Thanks for the camera advice! I've uploaded two pictures, but I'm not sure what the second moth is.
https://imgur.com/a/ya09t1A
Found this beauty today, a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar! It has blue and red spots on its spine. (Fun Fact: The adult females cannot fly, even though they have wings!)
https://imgur.com/a/bDaVBGL
Now, I'm not sure what species this fine specimen is, but maybe somebody could help me out. (It may be a Gypsy Moth, but that would be a drastic colour change.)
Gypsy moth caterpillars are neat for sure! I've never seen one in-person, but I did base one of my old Fakemon on vague memories of one I saw in a book as a kid. (Too bad they're invasive and often killed en masse. I personally feel bad even when I accidentally squish a mosquito scratching an itch, so I wouldn't be able to kill them if I found any. In fact, actually saw an Emerald Ash Borer the other day, a highly destructive beetle, but I couldn't help but just admire its beauty. Where are the Beast Balls when you need 'em?)
Your adult moth looks like a sphinx of some kind, but I'm not sure which.
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National Moth Week is upon us!
I didn't get anything last night/this morning, but here are my July newbies so far:
Nason's Slug Moth
Purple-Crested Slug Moth
Don't bother trying to find purple hues on the adult moth—only the slug-like caterpillar has them.
Peachtree Borer Moth (female)
Males have clear wings and a different abdominal pattern, but both genders resemble wasps
A lightly marked Oystershell Metrea Moth
And probably my favorite newbie this month...
The Spun Glass Slug Moth. This tiny, fluffy moth's caterpillar looks like it's made of ice crystals!
I didn't get anything last night/this morning, but here are my July newbies so far:
Nason's Slug Moth
Purple-Crested Slug Moth
Don't bother trying to find purple hues on the adult moth—only the slug-like caterpillar has them.
Peachtree Borer Moth (female)
Males have clear wings and a different abdominal pattern, but both genders resemble wasps
A lightly marked Oystershell Metrea Moth
And probably my favorite newbie this month...
The Spun Glass Slug Moth. This tiny, fluffy moth's caterpillar looks like it's made of ice crystals!
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My favorite newbie so far from National Moth Week 2020: the Moonseed Moth!
The dark lines on this species may appear purple or bluish with pink rimming depending on the angle/lighting.
The dark lines on this species may appear purple or bluish with pink rimming depending on the angle/lighting.
National Moth Week is almost over! Here are two more newbies:
Curve-Lined Argyria
Southern Tussock Moth
This guy seems to have subtle rainbowy hues.
EDIT: And to wrap up National Moth week, here's my final newbie: Variegated Midget
Curve-Lined Argyria
Southern Tussock Moth
This guy seems to have subtle rainbowy hues.
EDIT: And to wrap up National Moth week, here's my final newbie: Variegated Midget
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Whoops! I wrapped up Moth Week a day early (it's apparently an 8-day week). Anywho, here's a montage of all the species I photographed over the course of MW2020:
A few more newbies:
One of the Idaea species, I think; maybe Kendall's Wave
Feather-Edged Petrophila Moth. Their larvae are aquatic!
Red-Streaked Mompha Moth, aka Primrose Mompha
And the first Zale I've seen away from my decklight. I'm thinking Maple Zale since it seemed smaller than the Colorful Zales I tend to see.
And some repeats:
One of the Idaea species, I think; maybe Kendall's Wave
Feather-Edged Petrophila Moth. Their larvae are aquatic!
Red-Streaked Mompha Moth, aka Primrose Mompha
And the first Zale I've seen away from my decklight. I'm thinking Maple Zale since it seemed smaller than the Colorful Zales I tend to see.
And some repeats:
Better pic of the Small Mossy Glyph. See the #80?
A young Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar alongside an even younger Spiny Oak-Slug caterpillar:
A young Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar alongside an even younger Spiny Oak-Slug caterpillar:
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Orange-Tufted Oneida Moth
Those olive highlights are pretty neat!
Those olive highlights are pretty neat!
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Found a very cool newbie: Ironweed Clearwing, a very convincing wasp mimic!
Silver-Bordered Aethes
Black-Blotched Prominent caterpillar
Possibly Hahncappsia mancalis
Black-Marked Inga Moth
Camouflaged Looper, caterpillar of the Wavy-Lined Emerald
Maple Dagger caterpillar
Black-Blotched Prominent caterpillar
Possibly Hahncappsia mancalis
Black-Marked Inga Moth
Camouflaged Looper, caterpillar of the Wavy-Lined Emerald
Maple Dagger caterpillar
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It's good to see your excitement over moths, Neko! I'm assuming all these live around your area or do you like to go and seek them out?
Yep, all of my moth/caterpillar photos are from around my home.
Found another pretty cool caterpillar today, belonging to the Wavy-Lined Heterocampa
EDIT: Got this Splendid Dagger last night. Love those green highlights!
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Another Wavy-Lined Heterocampa caterpillar, like my previous post. Earlier instars have antlers!
Also, I forgot to post this Unicorn Caterpillar. Like the related and nearly identical Morning Glory Prominent caterpillar (aka False Unicorn Caterpillar), this caterpillar mimics the appearance of curled, drying leaves. Members of this genus can spray acid from their hump!
Also, I forgot to post this Unicorn Caterpillar. Like the related and nearly identical Morning Glory Prominent caterpillar (aka False Unicorn Caterpillar), this caterpillar mimics the appearance of curled, drying leaves. Members of this genus can spray acid from their hump!
My two favorite colors to see on moths: green and pink!
Three-Lined Flower Moth
Pink-Patched Looper Moth, aka Pink-Tinted Beauty
Three-Lined Flower Moth
Pink-Patched Looper Moth, aka Pink-Tinted Beauty
Locust Underwing
Bog Lygropia Moth
Obtuse Euchlaena
Penitent Underwing
Bog Lygropia Moth
Obtuse Euchlaena
Penitent Underwing