MISCELLANEOUS SMALL MOTHS

This is another plume moth. It belongs to the genus Geina, but a few species in this genus are difficult to tell apart from photos. 

Evergreen Bagworm Moth. This is the moth that emerges from those neat cases of leaves and evergreen needles that you see hanging on cedar trees and other shrubs. I did a double-take when I found this moth at my lights one morning. I couldn't decide at first if it was a moth or some type of fly, but the feathery antennae finally convinced me it was a moth. Photographed September 24, 2017. 

Morning-Glory Plume Moth. There are many species of plume moths, but this is the only one I find with regularity. These moths have a long flight period. I find Morning-Glory Plume Moths every month from February through November. 

Female Wedgling Moth. Females have purple or maroon-colored wings. 

Male Wedgling Moths are brown, with black, wedge-shaped marks on the edge of each wing.  

Sooty-winged Chalcoela Moth. These are fascinating insects. Their caterpillars feed on the larvae of paper wasps. This is an unusual turn of events in the moth world. Usually, wasps are the ones parasitizing the moths rather than the other way around. 

Maple Callus Borer, another wasp mimic. I have found a few of these moths at my lights in May and June. 

Ironweed Clearwing Moth (also known as the Eupatorium Borer). Several moths in the Sesiidae family are excellent wasp mimics, but despite its fearsome appearance, this is a completely harmless moth. I have found several of these moths in July and August. They can be found at many locations, including Cox Arboretum, Spring Lakes Park, Beavercreek Wildife Area, and by the Great Miami River in Miamisburg. 

Squash Vine Borer. I find them at my lights in June and July. The larvae feed on squash and pumpkin vines and related plants. 

Planthopper Parasite Moth. These are tiny little moths. Their larvae are predatory, feeding on fluids from planthoppers. I find the adult moths at my lights in late August and early September. 

Female Wedgling Moth with her wings spread. 

Another male. Wedgling Moths are very common in our area. I find them every month from March through November. 

I find Sooty-winged Chalcoela moths at my lights from May through September. 

Another Maple Callus Borer that came to my moth lights. 

Julia's Dicymolomia moth. I have seen a couple of these moths at my lights in August and September. 

Grape Root Borer moth, photographed on July 28, 2017 at Grant Park in Centerville. This is my only sighting of the species. 

Artichoke Plume Moth. I have found a couple of these moths at my lights in April.