In Search of Underwings

Dale Roberts/Bill Yule droberts03 at SNET.Net
Thu Aug 15 23:24:29 EDT 2002


Here at the porchlight in Guilford Catocalas have been slow with the
exception of C. ultronia which has been common for a month at least
including three this week.

                              Bill Yule
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence F. Gall" <lawrence.gall at yale.edu>
To: <ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 12:17 PM
Subject: Re: In Search of Underwings


> I'd echo Steve's comments on the apparent dip in the Catocala (underwing)
> crop this year.  Tapping tree trunks in the blasting late afternoon heat
> for a while produced very little on two recent outings at the Westport
> Nature Center, Fairfield County: just a few C. amica (Girlfriend), one
> C. ultronia, and one C. palaeogama (Old Wife).  My expectation would
> have been much more from this site in general, which I get to fairly
> regularly from year to year, and especially the sultry conditions.
>
> The fact that Steve is seeing C. blandula (Charming) commonly
> during August suggests a delayed season, since the peak of it's
> flight period in our area is usually during the first half of
> July (and/or maybe it's a good year for blandula in particular).
> Same for his C. amica (Girlfriend) observations, though it
> often tends to hang on well into August.
>
> Any other catocalating tidbits from other folks?
>
> Best, Larry
>
> >I just completed a cycle of 5 moth outings in 5 counties. One common
thread
> >was in evidence. This should be prime time for underwings, but the
results
> >are quite contrary.
> >
> >Aug 3, Westchester (James Ramsay Hunt Sanctuary) -- 1 Yellow-banded
> >Underwing and 1 Obscure Underwing at bait; 2 Girlfriend Underwings at
light.
> >
> >Aug 9, Fairfield (Devil's Den) -- 1 Charming Underwing at bait and 1
> >probable Ilia Underwing flying off from bait.
> >
> >Aug 10, Litchfield (Milton, along Shepaug River) -- 1 Ultronia Underwing
and
> >1 Charming Underwing at bait, the latter later at light.
> >
> >Aug 12, Nassau (Muttontown Preserve) -- 1 Charming Underwing at bait and
1
> >Girlfriend Underwing at light.
> >
> >Aug 13, Queens -- 1 Girlfriend Underwing at bait.
> >
> >The last spot was Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I surveyed that site last
> >year, so I have a basis for comparison. Last year at this time, it
abounded
> >with Little Wifes, Sweethearts and Darling Underwings. None of these have
> >been recorded yet this year. Is this season turning into a total bust
> >(although July was not this bad) or can I hold out hope that some things
are
> >just late? That hope is in the fact that I'm still getting rather fresh
> >looking Girlfriend Underwings, which last year at Jamaica Bay were only
seen
> >from July 9-23.
> >
> >Steve Walter
>
>
> ......................................................................
> : Lawrence F. Gall, Ph.D.            e-mail: lawrence.gall at yale.edu  :
> : Head, Computer Systems Office &     voice: 1-203-432-9892          :
> : Curatorial Affiliate in Entomology    FAX: 1-203-432-9816          :
> : Peabody Museum of Natural History    http://www.peabody.yale.edu   :
> : P.O. Box 208118, Yale University                                   :
> : New Haven, CT 06520-8118 USA                                       :
>


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