after dark »

Just a short post today. On nights when I’m not too tired, I’ve been going out looking for moths after dark. Sometimes I set up a bug-zapper lamp wrapped in a white sheet (to prevent moth fatalities), and other times, I just walk around the garden with a flashlight, watching for moths moving between the trees or through the vegetation. That’s how I got the above photo of the Common Lytrosis moth (Lytrosis unitaria - Hodges 6720). I saw it flying to a small apple tree in the garden, so followed it and took a few photos. I love the wood-grained look of its wings (click on images for larger views).

Below is a shot of an Orange-barred Carpet Moth (Dysstroma hersiliata - Hodge 7189) that was attracted by the bug-zapper lamp. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had a few of these occasionally make an appearance. It looks to me like it was “detailed” by someone who paints flames on hotrods.

If you’re interested in viewing some of the other moths I’ve photographed, visit my Moth Gallery on Pbase. I add a few new moths every few days.