2020 May 1 morning

 

   Today we have one of our largest moths, Hyalophora euryalus and (the caterpillar of) one of our smallest moths, Eriocrania semipurpurella.  I think they are maybe not the largest and the smallest.  I think maybe Antheraea polyphemus is slightly larger.  Other tiny moths that we get here include Stigmella sp., Leucoptera laburnella, Phyllocnistis populiella, Cameraria gaultheriella.   All are from different Families, and all are leaf-miners.  They could all compete for the title of our smallest moth, though I suspect that Stigmella would probably win.

 

   You will notice that many leaves of Ocean Spray have brown blotches at this time of year.  Many of these are the blotch mines of Eriocrania semipurpurella.  The blotch shown below was from an Ocean Spray leaf in Mount Douglas Park.  The adult moths are to be found in March.

 

Hyalophora euryalus (Lep.: Saturniidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Eriocrania semipurpurella (Lep.: Eriocraniidae)  Jeremy Tatum