Let the Fall moths begin.

Here are three of the quality species that came to the lights last night (8 October 2013):

Plagiomimicus olvello  "Planet Arium Moth"  *okay, so we made that common name up a few years back. It has no common name.  Call it Tim... if you wish.

P. olvello is a Fall flyer, with unknown larval host plant and a fairly restrictive range.  Here is a map taken from North American Moth Photographers Group website:



Last night was also the first sighting of this calender year for us.
In the past we have had singles of this species.  Last night we had the pleasure of three freshly flying adults.



Below, another nice species with at least 3 fresh adult flying last night we have had back in September as well:

Eulithosia papago 

This equates to another species that not a whole heck of a lot is known about and is always a welcomed sight to the blacklights.  For E. papago, the following is also a Moth Photographers Group website range map:



I was able to camera flash the above individual fairly well.  They were quite active for a good while.  The following photo didn't freeze the wings of a different individual quite as well..



...but a decent look at the underside of a fore-wing and a hind-wing.

A new bug to our lights, perhaps even to the range map of the website I've been linking to, but not to Brewster County (Knudson & Bordelon, 2011) as I have the list I just cited laying next to me:

Anemosella obliquata

This species has also been found in locations in south Texas.  New bug for us, new bug for the year.  Really, who doesn't love a green family Pyralidae (snout moths and what-have-you..)- member moth?

Fall is an excellent time of year in the Big Bend Region of the state of TX.  Fall moths can get real interesting as well.  It has started off nicely, and there are still some show-stoppers and personal faves we are awaiting.

Come on out to visit our region.  There are so many things you can do in Brewster County, even with Big Bend National Park shut down; so many things to do in the region.  Don't cancel your trips.

Don't let them think they've won...

Work Cited:
Knudson & Bordelon,  2011.  Checklist of Lepidoptera of Big Bend National Park Texas.  Texas   Lepidoptera Survey