Diversity in conformity: Meet the Hologram Moth

Green-backed Looper by day, Hologram Moth by night

Learning a new group of insects is always a challenge, but some groups are easier than others. Moths are a special challenge because there are so many of them. As of 2010, Greg Pohl and his coauthors have documented 2367 species of Lepidoptera in Alberta and more are added each year. The vast majority of these are moths, but 175 or so are butterflies.

Flash-induced iridescent 'hologram' style Diachrysia balluca Geyer, 1832

Like all living organisms, moths show individual variation within a species, some genetic, some the result of developmental or ecological experiences. Many moths also seem to exhibit a general convergence in patterns among various species and genera.

A pair of 'Carpet Moths', mystery moth on left, Dysstroma hersiliata (Guenée, 1858) on right

This is particularly striking in the many species of moths with forewing patterns that seem to break up their outlines and allow them to blend into the background where they rest during the day - on tree trunks and limbs, among lichens or dead leaves, on the ground, or in a shadow somewhere. Presumably much of the variation in colour and patterns in the wings results from natural selection that improves the survival of moths with patterns appropriately cryptic for the places they like to rest.

Also known as the Large Brassy Plusia, another Diachrysia balluca under the black light

Bird predation is known to have been a primary factor in the classic example of the Peppered Moth (aka Pepper & Salt Geometer) becoming the Carbon Black Moth in industrial England. As the smoke from coal fires coated the bark and branches of light-coloured trees, the white & black patterned Peppered Moth populations became dominated by melanistic forms - dark as coal dust. More impressively, as clean air laws and the change to other fuels resulted in a drastic reduction in particulate pollution, the Peppered Moth morph again became the more common. Such switching between two morphs is easy to understand, but the seemingly random variation in patterns is less so.

A Green-Arches resting on a grill - probably not its natural resting place

These BugGuide Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) are a nice example of variations within a theme. No two moths are exactly the same, yet the underlying patterns are all similar. I'm guessing these moths like to rest on lichen covered surfaces, but it is hard to think like a bird, and perhaps they see it differently. Not much seems to be known about where moths hang out during the day; however, the preponderance of grey to brown to buff patterns resembling bark and lichens among the mid to larger moths seems suggestive.

Aposematic Virgin Tiger Moth Grammia virgo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Not all moths are cryptic, of course, but often the reason for being bold is clear. The Virgin Tiger Moth above, for example, is positively shouting "Do't eat me: I taste badddd!", although that probably wouldn't help much in the dark and one wonders what a bat would think? Spicy?

What is this Hologram Moth trying to tell me?

And I wonder what birds and bats think about the Green-backed Looper? I know what I think - if you are going to use a flash to take pictures of this moth, you will need a flash diffuser. Other than that, though, I find this looper confusing. It is very large for a Plussine, so presumably would make a good meal for a bird or bat. Having now seen the moth resting during the day (picture at the top), however, I'm guessing it may like to hide among dying or damaged leaves. I've got no idea why it has such a strange hairdo though.

Party time at the black light

References
Grant BS. 1999. Fine tuning the Peppered Moth Paradigm. Evolution 53: 980-984. http://bsgran.people.wm.edu/melanism.pdf

Majerus MEN. 1998. Melanism - Evolution in Action. Oxford University Press, NY. http://www.amazon.ca/Melanism-Evolution-Michael-E-Majerus/dp/0198549822

Miller K. The Peppered Moth - An update. http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/Moths/moths.html

Pohl GR, Anweiler GG, Scmidt BC & Kondla NG. 2010. An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada. ZooKeys 38: 1–549.
http://www.pensoft.net/journal_home_page.php?journal_id=1&page=article&type=show&article_id=383&abstract=1

Bold-feathered Grass Moth, probably

A dizzy moth, perhaps the Bold-feathered Grass Moth 

If you've read this blog before, you know me for a whinger about the Alberta weather. You probably imagine me as a grouchy old wanker with nothing better to do than look out his window and feel sorry for himself. Well, there is something to that: I often look out my window and feel totally depressed by the weather (the climate is beyond my comprehension).

Herpetogramma pertextalis (Lederer, 1863), most likely

Still, I soldier on and find what I can to be positive about in this land in which I find myself imprisoned (my heroic aspect revealed). This weekend has been a tough one - pretty bloody miserable after a string of ordinary to miserable weekends all 'summer'. Still, I had a few hours last night with the blacklight before the massive thunderstorm hit about 3:40 am. 

Probably Herpetogramma pertextalis, but maybe Sitochroa chortalis 

This moth was one of the several interesting - oh why be coy - very cool moths that fluttered into the light between showers and downpours last night. Took me a long time to figure out its probable name because it looks so geometrioidy. But no, it is a Pyraloidea of one ilk or another, and quite possibly the rather rare (in Alberta) Bold-feathered Grass Moth.

Carpet moth, as yet identified

Should I brave the thunder and lightening again tonight or try to get some sleep? Well, when one sleeps one may, perchance, dream. Is a moth at the light worth a pleasant dream? Well, beats  a nightmare and we have all winter to sleep. My guess is that this is Dysstroma hersiliata (Guenée, 1858), the Orange-barred Carpet Moth, but a better picture would be nice and who knows what else may show up.

A Big Moth with a Mono-ocular gaze: Polyphemus

A big moth with that 'I'm looking at you' attitude

In Alberta, that too far north for comfort latitudinal range, one gets used to being biodiversity-challenged. If you went back in time a decade of thousand years - nada in geological time - you would have nothing living here except very cold-tolerant algae and bacteria. Still, that pallid and unreliable sun has been shinning with what passes for warmth here for more moth generations than one could easily count.

Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer, 1776) - as big as a mouse, but without the Hanta Virus

Gradually, solar cycles allowing, even Alberta will gradually integrate itself into the Greater North American Biome. Who knows, but maybe one day Grizzlies and Armadillos will frolic together beneath the shadows of the Rockies. Well, best not to expect too much from Mother Nature. To her a barren wasteland of ice or volcanic magma is just as natural as a rainforest. So, while we may, let us imagine a diversity of elegant and attractive moths fluttering around our wasteful nocturnal emissions.

A big, bad Polyphemus caterpillar eating my Mayday

Polyphemus is a big moth - wingspan of about 6 inches (15 cm) - not the biggest, Alberta can boast other giant silk moths such as Luna Moth (apparently a recent arrival) and Glover's Silk Moth - but the biggest that has come fluttering to my night lights. Personally, I welcome all and any additions to Alberta's fauna - as long as they come with their baggage of parasites and predators that not only add to our biodiversity, but keep any one species from being too, too common.

A dozen Polyphemus caterpillars in a Mayday is interesting, a thousand would be a disaster

In Greek legend and mythology Polyphemus was a big, bad cyclops. Although much spoken of in ancient times, today he and she are just big moths. Is there a greater thrill than having a mouse-sized moth walk on your hand? Well, yes, many, but it is still a very nice thing.

All moths are interesting, but some are more interesting than others

Two-spotted Looper outshines a Double Dart

Back on the Moth Farm the clouds continue their unending downpour. I huddle next to the wood stove and wonder if the gophers must be learning to swim. The moths, though, seem content to wing their way through the mists between showers and provide some colourful relief from the dreary doldrums of summer in Alberta. Well, some provide colourful relief, but others seem content to blend into the grey background. Compare these two Owlet Moths (Noctuidae): the brightly patterned Two-spotted Looper Autographa bimaculata (Stephens, 1830) and the dull as dishwater Double Dart Graphiphora augur (Fabricius, 1775).

Two-spotted Looper Autographa bimaculata

Bright silver spots, squiggles, scripts and autographs are characteristics of many Owlet Moths but especially those in the subfamily Plusiinae and subtribe Plusiina and are reflected in many generic names based on the Greek root grapho (= write) such as Anagrapha, Autographa, Megalographa, and Syngrapha. What the genus Plusia may refer to, however, is a mystery. 

Putnam's Looper Plusia putnami Grote, 1873

A mystery too is why the silver spots and squiggles? Since similar marking occur on unrelated moths, one might think they serve some function. Perhaps they reflect moonlight or sonar to dazzle bats. In any case, the clouds continue to scuttle across the sky, dropping rain, rain, rain and the moths flutter between squalls and hunker down during them.

The Hooked Silver Y Syngrapha alias (Ottolengui, 1902)

Three Elegant Moths

Diachrysia balluca Geyer, 1832 the Large Brassy Plusia or Green-patched Looper

In the Alberta summer one has to take their enjoyment of nature when they can amongst all of the rains, hail, lightening and strong winds. So far, it has rained two out of every three days in June and July and over 10 inches of rain have fallen in the Home Bug Garden (and much of that has flowed through the basement). However, Saturday night at Gopher Hill from midnight until 1:30 am the rains let up and the black light went out to see what might be roaming around the cloudy darkness.

Malacosoma disstria Hubner, 1820 adult of the Forest Tent Caterpillar

As usual when the black light works its magic here, the response of the nocturnal Lepidoptera overwhelmed all other insects. That's probably an Alberta thing too, at least compared to Queensland and other warmer lands in which I've gone night-lighting - where beetles, wasps, flies and bugs were often almost as diverse as the moths.

Sicya macularia (Harris, 1850) the Sharp-lined Yellow

So, here's a short tribute to just a few of the hardy moths that braved the cool, damp night to flutter around a black-light.

Mothing between Storms: Once Married Underwing

Once-married  Underwing Catocala unijuga

The start to [Inter]national Moth Week late last night-early this morning was not salubrious in the extended Home Bug Garden. Actually, in the HBG per se it was even wetter and less mothopilic than in the remote site - about 2 km east of Elk Island National Park. Still, through a process of judiciously applied wine, napping, and radar-gazing, I was able to emerge from the cabin, black-light in hand, just after midnight this morning as the rains receded and start attracting moths (and frogs - rain and moths seem to meet with froggy approval).

Underwing in under position

As usual when the blacklight doesn't have to compete with moon or rain, the results were stunning. I hope to be able to share some of the extraordinary diversity of form with my readers later in the week - as one, by one, names are applied. In the meantime, though, here is the first Catocala of the season and the largest of this morning's visitors. I myself was once married, so the common name of this very large and attractive moth has some resonance beyond its beauty and imposing size.  But much more is in store in the coming week as the smaller, but no less elaborate ad lumina nigra are exposed.

Mystery Moth

[Inter]national Moth Week: Wet Night One

Virgin Tiger (Grammia virgo) over flies a Sharp-angled Carpet Moth (Euphyia intermediata) as coyotes (Canis latrans) howl in the night

Well, the yanks are doing their National Moth Week again and we friendly neighbours to the north are ready to remind them that moths respect not borders. Last week the Environment Canada prediction looked like we would be starting Moth Week with sunshine and clear skies. Well, Edmonton did have on of its rare two days in a row without rain this week; but alas, such perversity is now passed and the clouds and rains have returned.

Haploa lecontei aka LeConte's Haploa, another Tiger Moth

Rain is not so good for mothing, but clouds have a silver lining - cloudy nights are best for blacklighting. So the next week's predicted dreary day after day after day of clouds casts no pall over nights of scaly wonder. As an added bonus, if you stay up late enough each night appreciating moths then you'll probably sleep through most of the dreary day anyway (of course, this could get you fired). With any luck, tonight's rains will have passed before the long northern summer day is done and the black light will once more call forth the amazing diversity of scale-winged beauties. If not, well, I've been saving up moths for you for a rainy night or even a rainy week.

Large Lace-Border Scopula limboundata

Moth Week 5: Snout Moths

Chytolita cf petrialis (Grote, 1880) the Lesser Luteous Snout

'Snout moth' refers to members of several moth families that have large labial palps that jut forward like a snout. Don't ask me why, but since the 'snout' evolved in several different lineages, I suppose there must be a good reason. Anyway, it makes this otherwise innocuous Stone-winged Owlet interesting and also gives it a second common name: the Lesser Luteous Snout. That makes me wonder what the Greater Luteous Snout might look like, but the all-knowing Google claims there is no such thing. How strange, but perhaps 'luteous' should be 'ludicrous'?

Palthis angulalis (Hübner, 1796) the Angulated Snout

There is a Morbid Snout Chytolita morbidalis (Guenée, 1854) that looks very similar and hence the 'cf'. This is an abbreviation for the Latin word confer that commands one to 'compare' and is a way of weaselling when unsure of an identification. Still, I'm pretty sure the upper Snout is Chytolita petrialis, since I've found no records for Morbid Snouts in central Alberta and the picture was snapped in a marshy area - which this species is supposed to prefer. The larvae feed on dead leaves. In contrast, the larvae of Palthis angulalis (Hübner, 1796) the Angulated Snout, apparently feed on conifer needles. I rather like the paper airplane look of the wings folded at rest. Both of these snout moths belong to the subfamily Herminiinae, sometimes somewhat imprecisely called Litter Moths.

Rivula propinqualis Guenée, 1854 the Yellow Snout

In contrast, the rather modest snout moth sporting on the orange Achillea, Rivula propinqualis Guenée, 1854, the Spotted Grass Moth or Yellow Snout-moth belongs to the subfamily Rivulinae that does not seem to have attracted a common name. Given the modest snout and the caterpillars apparent preference for grasses, I think I'll call this one the Spotted Grass Moth.

Modest Snout of the Spotted Grass Moth

In addition to the Erebidae, members of the Crambidae such as the Orange Mint Moth we looked at earlier in the week and of the Pyralidae also are called snout moths. That's a lot of snouts, but perhaps its best to leave it here. The sun is shining and the radar not yet filled with storms, so its time to go look for some bugs in the Garden.

Moth Week 2: Orange Mint Moth

Orange Mint Moth:  Pyrausta orphisalis Walker, 1859  

If you saw this colourful little moth fluttering around your spearmint, I suppose you needn't be please. It's larvae do feed on members of the mint family. But, I can't say that I've ever noticed any damage, although the moth is a regular inhabitant of the Home Bug Garden. If they start chewing on the Gardenview Scarlet Monarda I just planted, well, maybe I'll exert some natural selection, but otherwise it just another organism trying to survive in the Big City.

Pyrausta orphisalis Walker, 1859

Orange Mint Moth, Oranged-Spotted Pyrausta

Crambidae – Snout Moths

Wingspan 15-17 mm

Caterpillars feed on members of the mint family including Monarda

http://bugguide.net/node/view/9724

http://entomology.museums.ualberta.ca/searching_species_details.php?fsn=Pyrausta+orphisalis&sb=1&r=1&o=1&c=2&s=6266&sn=Pyrausta+orphisalis

International Moth Week: Blinded Sphinx

A ghostly glare from a Blinded Sphinx

Our neighbours to the south are having a National Moth Week, although strangely beginning it today (Monday) and ending next Sunday. Well, as long as they don't make too much noise, I'm all for it and many other Altalepers feel the same. So, I will kick off the Home Bug Garden part of the celebration with a spooky denizen of the night: The Blinded Sphinx Moth Paonias excaecatus (J.E. Smith, 1797).

Blinded Sphinx with eyes blinded

The origin of the common name is obscure, but the 'eyes' that flash on and off, presumably to startle potential predators, may be the source (the species name is from the Latin 'to blind'). Sphinx, though, is applied to most of the family (Sphingidae) and according to the OED refers to the 'attitude' of the larva. Also known as hornworms, the caterpillars do look a bit like the hybrid monsters of myth and masonry.

Cute, colourful, cuddly, and smells good too

Why are moths so popular that they have a National Week? Their seemingly endless variety, often large size, and dazzling patterns and colours would seem to be explanation enough. Add to that their furry coating of soft scales and their relationship to their hard and bristly brethren is easily forgotten. They are practically birds! Also, serious moth-afficionados have a lot of fun collecting - a night-time activity that includes sugaring trees, black lights, tall stories, and abundant liquid refreshments.

Go see some moths during moth week

For those Edmontonians who'd rather not brave the dark and stormy nights (not the best for collecting) or the tornado warnings, you are in luck. The Royal Alberta Museum has a display of stunning images: Moths at Large. If the weather is simply too intimidating, then as long as the electricity lasts, why not drop in to Moths of Calgary and be amazed at the diversity of forms and colours that could be found in your own backyard. Go on, forget the gloomy weather and enjoy some of the brighter parts of Nature.

They're back: Black & White with Red on top

We're back! Gnophaela vermiculata poses for the camera

It's still a week until the US National Moth Week (which we Albertans will celebrate, even if we aren't invited), but the Police Car Moths started flying last week, perhaps to avoid the subsequent deluges.

Green Lattice?

With the Edmonton Police now sporting black & white patrol cars, the common name makes more local sense than in previous years. As common names go, this one is a good model. Consider the previous 'common' name, Green Lattice.

Another side of the Police Car Moth

OK, whatever, there's no rule that common names (or scientific names for that matter) have to make any sense. I suppose the long hairs on the caterpillar may intersect like a lattice? Well, not really and 'green' eludes me. Blue, yellow, black, and red, sure, but green?

Gnophaela (originally Omoiala) vermiculata (Grote, 1864) larva 

The genus name is probably from the Greek for 'darkness' (gnoph), the moth is mostly dark, and the species name seems to mean wormy. In English we have 'vermiculate' for 'worm-like' or decorated with wormy lines. The gardener's friend 'vermiculite' also comes in worm-like accordions. Perhaps the name was coined on a dark and wormy night?Nah, the original name was Omoiala vermiculata: wormy shoulder (Greek omo = shoulder) anyone?

Orange-shouldered Panda Moth?

I'm tempted to make up my own name for this attractive day-flying moth. But that's really just bludging (the basement needs mopping up, but the rain is still pouring, ergo blog). Police Car Moth is fine with me.

Australian of the Week: Agarista agricola (Donovan, 1805)

This Winter is definitely getting to me. Snow yesterday, -31 C this morning (and -39 at Elk Island), -30 and snow tomorrow. Although the Alberta Lepidopterist Guild had an entertaining Feralia Symposium this weekend and Terry Thormin, snug on Vancouver Island, is already posting new insect pictures on the Albertabugs, it looks like it will be many more cold, cold weeks until the first flies of spring. Rather than carp about the cold, though, I’m instituting a new semi-weekly feature in which I get to reminisce about a warmer land: Australian of the Week. Many of these pictures will have been scanned from 35mm film, but that was the technology at the time.

First up is the Joseph’s Coat Moth Agarista agricola (Donovan, 1805), from the biblical story (or the Dolly Parton song if you prefer). This is a large moth – and it flies during the day when its bright colours tell potential predators just how bad it tastes. Most brightly coloured diurnal moths are probably loaded with nasty chemicals (or at least pretending they are) – and they seem to be popular on bug blogs like Beetles in the Bush and Myrmecos Blog this week.

This particular Joseph’s Coat Moth fell victim to Heather’s camera in a vineyard outside Stanthorpe, Queensland. Stanthorpe is in the Granite Belt – Queenslands best wine country. If you really like red wine, then this is faint praise, but only because the competition is the Coonawarra, Yarra Valley, Eden Valley, Western Australia, Mornington Pennisula, and so on. The Granite Belt wine probably has the potential to be as good as that from the Barsossa Valley, usually about the best Australian wine I can afford in Alberta bottle shops. The Joseph’s Coat Moth is native to Queensland, where it feeds on native vines in the grape family (Vitaceae), and now and then, introduced grape vines.

Alberta has its own colourful day-flying moths that are now more or less in the same family with the Joseph’s Coat Moth. Well, who knows, the taxonomy of the Noctuoidea seems to change daily. Currently, the Police Car Moths I posted on last summer and the equally attractive Ctenucha virginica (Esper, 1794) are in the Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae). The Joseph’s Coat Moth had its own subfamily in The Insects of Australia, Agaristinae, and maybe it still does, but I’m not sure in what family it currently resides. Should I try to find out or open a bottle of Australian wine to toast the new feature? Ah, if only all choices were so easy!