autumn sallows

Dotted Sallow moth. This species is also similar to the Bicolored Sallow, but it is less common. Note the dotted line at the bottom of the wings, and the dark spot on the back of its thorax. 

Sloping Sallow. These are late-flying moths. I have found a handful of individuals from late October through December.

Bicolored Sallow. A very common autumn moth that flies from mid-September through November. 

Another Bicolored Sallow, one of the prettiest sallow moths. They come to my lights in large numbers. 

This is a Yellow Three-Spot moth. Very similar to the Bicolored Sallow above, but this species has a pattern of three yellow spots in the upper corner of the wing. 

This Sloping Sallow was photographed on December 9, 2023. He made putting my lights out so late in the year worthwhile! 

I have found a couple of Dotted Sallows in September and October. 

Yellow Three-Spot moths fly a little earlier than Bicolored Sallows. I have found a few Yellow Three-Spot moths from late August through early September. They usually fly just before the Bicolored Sallows get started. 

Bicolored Sallow. My latest sighting of this species is November 25th. 

This is an Unsated Sallow. Fresh individuals have sharp lines on their wings. These lines appear red and blue.

Another Unsated Sallow. I have only found this species at my lights twice: the one at left on October 15, 2017, and the one above on October 27, 2023. 

This is a Roadside Sallow, a large and very beautiful salmon-pink moth. 

Roadside Sallows fly late in the year. I have found a few individuals in late October and November. My latest sighting is November 17th. 

Another Roadside Sallow at my moth lights. (Note that there is a close look-alike species called the Holly Sallow, but that species lives a little further to our south. I would not expect it in our area as it feeds on native hollies.) 

This is an Even-lined Sallow. It came to my lights on July 3, 2021. It is the only Even-lined Sallow I have ever found. Their flight range is mostly July through September, so they fly a little earlier than the other species above.