First "Spring" Moths

[Steve Walter]

Today I found 4 moths of the genus Phigalia (family Geometridae) in Alley
Pond Park, Queens. Last year at the same time, I had these pegged as Small
Phigalia (Phigalia strigataria). Turning to the Covell field guide, the
flight period is given as March-May (as early as Jan. southward, which I
guess is nowhere close to here) and 3 of these individuals were already on
the worn side. In fact, today's moths seem to more closely match Toothed
Phigalia	(Phigalia denticulata) (47kb picture of the non-worn one attached),
for which the flight period is said to be Dec.-April. The only problem is
he's got the range as Virginia to Florida (where that kind of flight period
is easier to get away with). Any data on this in Connecticut?

Anyway, it's the start. I needed this badly. Up until this, a leucistic
Starling had to pass as the day's highlight. Aside from January's anomaly, I
consider this the start of the season. The normal daily temperatures have
begun their climb and some kinds of leps should be persistently out in mild
spells (45 degrees might be enough for the Phigalia species).

Steve Walter
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