Sunday 8 April 2012

In the Easter pink

Happy Easter! I hope that you have a lovely day, lots of chocolate - and eggs. Here are some unusual ones; they come from a Rosy Maple moth courtesy of of North Carolina Pest News. Rosy Maple moths are very pretty but not everyone likes them. There's even a Ornamental and Turf Insect Note which provides recommendations for control of caterpillars, known more sinisterly to the pest people as Green-striped Mapleworms.

 I shall have to cross the Atlantic and visit Sarah and Greg, or Banished in his swamp, to see one of these lovely creatures. But the internet is full of them if you Google for 'Easter moth'. It's the colouring rather than flight season which earns them the nickname, although some are on the wing in the southern United States in April.

Here's an adult insect, courtesy of Afro's Front Porch Critters on Bigwig Fotopages here. Just the sort of thing to add to your Easter table decorations. The outstanding US website BugGuide notes: If it weren't so common, it would generate greater excitement. Don't worry. It excites me over here.

3 comments:

Banished To A Pompous Land said...

Gorgeous moths indeed Martin. Not one I see in the yard very often but I'll be seeing plenty this summer when we are on holiday in the Shenandoah Valley.

Meanwhile I have a beauty from the weekend that's new to me. Only small but how can you resist the wonderfully named Pseudothyris sepulchralis...the Mournful Thyris.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4z-hIj8F1D0/T4LX-knU2VI/AAAAAAAAAdo/wFLxy5P6u9Q/s1600/moth

Banished To A Pompous Land said...

And I'm sorry to disappoint Martin but I'm not actually IN the swamp. It just feels like it, come mosquito season. And do feel free to pop in if your round this way.

Bring Tetleys. Beer not tea.

MartinWainwright said...

Hi Banished - sorry I've had my eye off the moths so am v late in replying. I shall certainly try to come swampwards, or rather edgeofswampwards and I'll be over to your blog shortly in the meanwhile

All warmest wishes

Martin