Night of the Lepidoptera

We had a lovely evening of 8% moon visibility last night and were not at all disappointed. Of a few(?) hundred(?) moths in attendance, most were old friends. But for old friends, they were certainly in their freshest condition, with only one or two ragged or very worn individuals the entire night! While numbers were not overwhelming, diversity was excellent. This post is kind of a follow-up to the previous... We like big bugs [and we cannot lie]

Eye-candy first. The moth that takes the cake for the night: Pygarctica neomexicana.

No common name, unknown larval host plant.

Not much to look at, eh? Well, it barely sat still...

It never did sit still.

Last year we had one good flight, hard to recall numbers, but "good" is more than one.

This was our first individual of the year... welcome back!

Now, our lovely, familiar Chloraspilates bicoloraria. Close-winged, this time. Minty.

The teeny, occasional visitor - Whip-marked Snout Moth, Microtheoris vibicalis.

Pygarctica flavidorsalis has no common name, but it has a BRIGHT orange abdomen and makes sporadic appearances at our lights; never more than one or two at a time.

One of our enduring favorites, the Purslane Moth, Euscirrhopterus gloveri.

Crisp white wing stripe with two small dots... and a brilliant flash of orange in flight!

Lovely, lovely evening. And darker nights are still ahead!