re. fall baiting

[Eric or Pat Metzler]

Baiting for moths in the winter can be exciting and rewarding.  I
collect moths in Ohio 12 months of the year, with baiting becoming the
major activity from late November/early Dec thru April.  Anytime the
daytime (crepuscular temp.) is about 55 F or above, try it.  As the temp
drops, the moths keep flying.  I've collected moths at bait when the
ambient temp was below 32 F.  It was hard to manipulate my killing jars
while wearing gloves.  Dale Schweitzer mentions baiting when it was
snowing.

I described two species, Lithophane joannis and Lithophane franclemonti,
both Noctuids, that were taken at bait in the middle of the winter in
Ohio.

Good luck to all.

Eric Metzler
Columbus OH

jhimmel at CONNIX.COM wrote:
> 
> John - I'd be interested in seeing what you turned up.  I think I'll give it a
> try - I usually stop in late summer.  With the law of diminishing returns
> applying at this time of year, more effort should be employed to see what can
> still be found.
> 
> In my neck of the woods, S. bicolorago (Bicolored Sallow) are still coming to
> lights at a strong clip!
> 
> John
> 
> <><><><><><><><><>
> John Himmelman
> Killingworth, CT USA
> jhimmel at connix.com
> <><><><><><><><><>
> 
> I don't know how many on this list participate in bait collecting, but I
> thought I would mention that in the last week I have experienced some
> good late warm weather here in Pennsylvania. I've managed to get
> out twice, each time with the daytime temperatures in the 60's F, and
> goodcloud cover in the evening. I baited in oak dominated forest, and
> found between 10 to 25 moths at most bait sites. About 95% of the moths
> were Sunera bicolorago (Noctuidae - sorry I don't have acess to the
> common name at this moment).The rest were other noctuids, almost all being
> Cucullinae).
> 
> Sincerely, John Grehan