On the evening of August 22 I crossed paths with The Green Marvel.  Although its name has the makings of a great superhero, its superpower is its ability to mimic a patch of tree-bark lichen. The triangular moth with dark brown blotches on light-green wings flew in at sundown.  It stayed until I crawled into my sleeping bag around 3 a.m.  It was a moth I’d never seen before, one of many that dispels the notion that moths are drab and colorless versions of their daytime counterparts, the butterflies.  It was also the first of many new insects and some surprising behaviors I’d observe.  So much of nature happens after dark; so much goes unseen and undetected by even the most diligent observer. It’s always a delight to be out after dark with accomplished naturalists.

    Eleven people gathered at Calverley Lodge at Powder Mill Nature Reserve, near Rector in Westmoreland County, PA.   Our mission was to find and identify moths.  We hung two white bed sheets to attract the moths.  One sheet had a black light in front and a mercury vapor light behind; the second only a black light.  I also smeared moth bait on several tree trunks.  Moth bait is a mixture of stale beer, brown sugar and mashed bananas. 

    I was able, with the help of the group, to identify 45 species of moths, counting the caterpillars we found in the morning.  I took several photos of moths I haven’t yet identified - the list should grow. Additionally, the lights and bait attracted several other interesting invertebrates plus an Eastern Screech Owl and three species of amphibian.  Two salamanders that climbed the sheet were a total surprise.  A Northern Saw-whet Owl tooted in the distance.

Read more on the Nature Observer blog.

The checklist.

All photos August 22 or August 23, 2009, PowderMill Run, Rector, Westmoreland County, PA  40° 8'46.13"N,  79°16'5.43"W