Moths: March 14-19

Besides loving amphibians, I love moths. I don't know a lot about them yet and they are very hard to identify but I love to look at them. Like moss, they are very interesting once you really look closely. Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Moths is OK and I have a copy but it has so many black and white photos and the insects are dead and spread which makes it hard to ID live moths. Recently, I purchased "Moths and Caterpillars of the North Woods" by Jim Sogaard and that is better but still limited.

I have decided to occasionally post photos of the moths I find at my back porch light. I will give an attempt to name them and when I am absolutely sure of the name I will give a little life history.

This week I am not sure of most of the moths I found but I am attempting to name them. The only one I am sure of is Phigalia titea (The Half-Wing Geometer). Please don't take these names as coming form an expert. And if YOU know what it is please, please let me know or correct me if I am wrong. That is one way to learn. So here goes, these are the ones I found from March 14-19.

Eupithecia miserulata (Common Pug)

Papaipema unimoda (Meadow-Rue Borer)

Phigalia strigataria

Phigalia titea (The Half-Wing Geometer)

This moth overwinters as a pupa in the soil. Adult as seen here emergences from late March to mid-April, and oviposition occurs during the same time period and eggs are laid in protected places on branches, tree trunks and under loose bark. Hatching takes place in late April and the larvae feed for approximately 1½ months on most hardwood trees, including various oaks, hickories, and red maple.

One of the Tortricid Moths

Another Tortricid Moth

I'm totally clueless about this one.

At best I am hopeing for a photographic record of the emergence of moths in my yard.