I have continued trying to photograph pollinators at Ajo Lily flowers. Paul Johnson and I sat out Sunday night for a couple of hours and despite what seemed like suitable conditions, we had no success. Last night it was very windy and cold. Tonight, the wind went down but it was still cool. I decided to try anyway and I’m glad I did! I’m also going to add some photos from a blacklight session last week. My old blacklight quit working and BioQuip (an entomology supply company) has gone out of business. So, I had to try something different. I bought a blacklight LED strip, about 3 feet long. It runs off a 12 volt battery. My only night testing it was also pretty cool, but it attracted plenty of insects, despite the chilly weather. I’m looking forward to more of that as the weather warms. As always, a larger image can be seen by right clicking on an image and opening in a new tab or window.
This is my favorite White-lined Sphinx image as it visits the Ajo Lily. One can see the proboscis extending into the flower tube. I used a hand-held remote shutter release instead of relying on the laser trigger, I was able to get more shots that way. I like this one too, the uppersides of the wings are more colorful. Now the moth is really getting into the pollen on the anthers. The stigma and style are just below the moth’s abdomen. Macaria deceptrix, larval food plant is Condalia.Zaleops umbrina, this is the only species of Zaleops found north of Mexico. Larval food plant is Catsclaw Acacia. Lithostege fuscata, there are very few records of this moth in BugGuide. It is restricted to deserts of California, Arizona and New Mexico. Not much else is known about it. Hemeroplanis incusalis, larval food plant is mesquites and other legumes. It has a wider distribution, in deserts and low mountains of Arizona, California and Nevada. My sister Susan asked the question, if the red spot on Lithostege fuscata was part of the moth or a parasite? I had passed it off as a red spot on the moth, but I took a closer look and indeed, it is a parasite!
6 replies on “Moths”
Wow! Nailed it, beautiful photos Doug. Especially the Sphinx moths, those are spectacular.
Beautiful work. I am still trying to get some IDs on some of the other moth species.
So lovely, all of them! Cool to see the pollen sticking to belly and legs. And those wing patterns! Appreciate the species details as well.
Great pictures!
Is that a parasitic insect or arachnid on the back of the Lithostege fuscata, or just part of the moth?
I really like the Sphinx moths, they are fascinating to watch.
Susan, I had just passed it off as part of the moth, but I took a closer look and it is definitely a parasite! Good eye!
Doug
I’m going to add a photo to the post, showing the parasite.
6 replies on “Moths”
Wow! Nailed it, beautiful photos Doug. Especially the Sphinx moths, those are spectacular.
Beautiful work. I am still trying to get some IDs on some of the other moth species.
So lovely, all of them! Cool to see the pollen sticking to belly and legs. And those wing patterns! Appreciate the species details as well.
Great pictures!
Is that a parasitic insect or arachnid on the back of the Lithostege fuscata, or just part of the moth?
I really like the Sphinx moths, they are fascinating to watch.
Susan, I had just passed it off as part of the moth, but I took a closer look and it is definitely a parasite! Good eye!
Doug
I’m going to add a photo to the post, showing the parasite.