(Lepidoptera)
Moths have often feather-like antennae or an antenna with no club at the end. When perched, their wings lie flat. Moths usually have thick hairy bodies and more earthy colours.
American Angle Shades Moth
Widespread over the Pacific Northwest, occupying forests, open woods, and suburban habitats, they are out after dark. The caterpillars feed at night on bracken and other ferns, as well as several low plants and trees. They are awesome moths to observe, although they are not the usual colour of angle shades moths, they are indeed them. Read More….
American Lappet Moth
The American Lappet Moth has a wingspan of 2.5 to 5 cm. The colouring of the forewing can range from reddish to light brown and is marked with white and violet. Both wings have white scalloping on the outer edges. American Lappet Moths look strange when at rest, as the forewings are folded over the abdomen and the hind wings protrude out. Read More….
Banks Emerald Moth
The Emerald Moth could be mistaken for a butterfly by its shape. The upper wings are light, dusky emerald in colour, and the upper edge is bordered with white. This moth is fairly common on Vancouver Island; they are very beautiful. Read More….
Biston Betularia Moth
The Adult Biston Betularia Moth (also called the peppered moth) is great at camouflaging themselves, and they are adept at this in their larval form, too. Peppered moth caterpillars look remarkably like sticks or twigs, which lowers their chances of getting picked off by birds and other potential predators. Read More….
Broom Moth
The Broom Moth (Ceramica pisi) inhabits open woodland and forest edges in the Pacific Northwest. It can be seen from late May to early August when it is attracted to light. It’s a small brown moth. The distinctive brown and yellow striped caterpillar feeds not only on Scottish Broom but can also be found feeding on bracken and various other trees and plants. Read More….
Eyed Hawk Moth
The eyed Hawk Moth has a wingspan of up to 5 cm. Adults are pale brown with pinkish-brown forewings. The forewings are slightly scalloped with a series of chocolate blotches. This is a common moth on Vancouver Island, but because they blend into their daytime resting spots so well, you can be considered lucky to have seen one. Read More….
Finger Dagger Moth Caterpillar
The Finger Dagger Moth Caterpillar grows into a medium to large moth with light grey forewings with darker markings and white hind wings. Its forewings have normal markings, but they are somewhat broken and blurred. Its orbicular spot is a small, hollow ring. There is no basal dash. Read More….
Magpie Moth
The Magpie Moth has variable black and white patterned wings with a yellowish colouring on its upper torso and head. It is found throughout the Pacific Northwest. The caterpillar, which is pale green with bold, black spots and a rusty line down the sides, is conspicuously coloured to warn off predators. Read More….
Raspberry Crown Borer Moth
The Pennisetia Marginata’s common name (Raspberry Crown Borer Moth or Blackberry Clearwing Borer) explains the host plant it attacks. It is a moth of the family Sesiidae, not a hornet like it appears to be. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. It is widespread in the United States, but mainly in the east and along the American Pacific Coast; it is not common in the Western Pacific Coast of BC. Read More….
Rosy Aemilia Caterpillar
The Rosy Aemilia Caterpillar is the larva of a moth of the Arctiidae family. It was described by Walker in 1868. It is found in western Oregon, Washington and southwestern British Columbia, and all of Vancouver Island. The habitat consists of conifer forests and urban landscapes. The length of the wings is 14 to 15 mm. Read More….
Ruby Tiger Moth
Many types of tiger moths live in the Pacific Northwest; the ruby tiger moth is my personal favourite. Tiger moths are named for the beauty of their variegated colouring and not for any tiger-like tendencies. They can be spotted and banded, or pure snow-white. Read More….
Tent Caterpillar Moths
The tent caterpillar moth has a wingspan of 4 to 6 cm and is dark brown with 2 whitish lines nearly parallel to the outer edge of the wings. It is widespread in North America. The caterpillars can strip and kill a tree if too many feed on it. Read More….
White-lined Sphinx Moth
White-lined sphinx moths are among the largest flying insects of the Pacific Northwest, with adult wingspans exceeding 20 cm, and the larvae can be quite large as well, with most having a prominent horn at the rear of their fleshy body. Read More….
White Wave Moth
The white wave is a geometer moth. They are the second-largest family of moths in North America. This family includes many serious agricultural and forest pests. These moths are small to medium, with slender bodies and broad wings. Read More….
Moths
Moths are usually active at night and rest during the day in their preferred habitat. Moth caterpillars spin a silk cocoon before changing into a moth. Scientists have identified some 250,000 species of moths worldwide, but suspect there may be that many again waiting to be discovered.
Moths are found all around the world and are closely related to the more colourful butterflies. However, moths are nocturnal animals and are more pastel-coloured to blend into the darker surroundings of night. As with their butterfly cousins, moths are known to play a vital role in the pollination of plants as they flutter between them. Those plants that flower during the night rely solely on moths and bats to pollinate them. They are the second most important pollinator after the bees.
Moths are herbivorous animals and survive on a plant-based diet. Moths predominantly drink the nectar from the plants using their long, straw-like tongue, and moths are also known to do a similar thing with sugary fruits and berries. The moth caterpillars, also still generally herbivores, eat a mixture of plants and leaves, and some species will also eat insects.
The moth has natural predators throughout the world that include birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and even other insects and larger spiders. All around the world, both moths and their caterpillars are known to be pests, particularly to farmers, as the caterpillars can, in some years, eat through a farmer’s crops pretty fast.
What are the very tiny bugs that fly around lights at night in the south Okanagan? They sure leave a mess in the morning when their little dead bodies cover the flat surfaces below the lights.
Vernon bc
This moth/butterfly looked like a leaf fragment. Perhaps neither?
Hi Bill, i blieve that is a dead leaf moth, very cool
Located at the 108 Mile Ranch. Anyone know what kind of moth this is?
no image came through