Moth Night on Blennerhassett Island, Sunday July 27

Squash Vine Borer (c) High Virginia Images

Moth Night on Blennerhassett Island, Sunday July 27

            PARKERSBURG, West Virginia –The Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the West Virginia Master Naturalist program, in conjunction with Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, is sponsoring a "Moth Watch" outing on Blennerhassett Island, Sunday evening, July 27. Participants will board the Island Belle sternwheeler at 7 p.m. for a river trip to the island. Attendees will gather at the picnic shelter for a short program about moths and how to catch and observe them. Moth attracting stations will be in place for participants to observe and catch moths. Participants will depart at 11 p.m. for the ride back to the docks. Light refreshments will be provided.
            People of all ages are invited to enjoy a special night observing animals rarely seen. Master Naturalists will be on hand to assist and help identify moth species.
            "Moth species outnumber those of butterflies by a factor of 15 to 1. Many of them are as stunningly beautiful as butterflies and yet rarely seen because they work at night," according to Emily Grafton of the local Master Naturalist chapter. "Moths provide an important link in the ecology of our forest ecosystems and much information is needed about the populations. We will also take the opportunity to identify other night life that may appear." Grafton will be joined by entomologist Sue Olcott for this evening of winged discoveries.
            Participants are encouraged to bring cameras for photographing moths. Some moths will be collected for identification by WVU entomologists. All data will be submitted to a national database, part of the Citizens Scientist network. Participants also should bring a flashlight, light jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
            The cost to participate in Moth Night at Blennerhassett Island is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12. This covers the boat ride, light refreshment, program and nighttime experience.
            The Blennerhassett Island Moth Night July 27 is scheduled in tandem with National Moth Week occurring July 19-27, 2014. National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles and habitats of moths, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to learn about, observe and document moths in their backyards, parks and neighborhoods.
            To learn more about the Blennerhassett Island Moth Night event, call 304-420-4800 or email blennerhassettislandsp@wv.gov. Find these events and more at www.wvstateparks.com.
Moth Watch website:  http://nationalmothweek.org/
Naturalist/Entomologist for Moth Night at Blennerhassett Island July 27
Sue Olcott
            Susan Olcott has worked as a wildlife diversity biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources since 1995. Currently project leader for the West Virginia Butterfly Atlas, she also headed up the West Virginia Dragonfly and Damselfly Atlas. She has been an avid naturalist and birder since her childhood in upstate New York. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maine in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. from Frostburg State University in the same. In addition to numerous point count routes and surveys that she runs annually, she leads public bird walks in the Morgantown, West Virginia, area and spring walks at Prickett's Fort State Park each year and coordinates the northern panhandle region for the current West Virginia Breeding Birds Atlas.
Emily Grafton
            Emily Grafton, a West Virginia native, spent the past 35 years roaming the fields and forests of the state observing and learning its natural history. She's earned degrees in botany and special education with an emphasis on teaching science. Emily has worked for several agencies with a focus on environmental education and program development, biological field studies and nature writing. She has written numerous articles on plants and wildlife published in various state newsletters, the DNR Wildlife Magazine and other publications. She has also written two comprehensive field guides to two state parks and is an avid birder.

**DNR**

Moth Week

(c) HVI 2010

Lights on! It’s Moth Week at Pipestem State Park July 20-28

PIPESTEM, W.Va. – National Moth Week is a global celebration of moths and biodiversity held on the last week of July 20-28. Pipestem State Park is participating in the second annual National Moth Week with organized moth hunts, crafts and the showing of the “Godzilla vs. Mothra” movie. The first national event, organized by a group of New Jersey scientists,  recognized citizens from 49 states and 29 countries contributing data on distribution and life histories for this diverse group of insects.
The largest order of insects
Moths have three main body regions – head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of jointed legs and one pair of antennae.  Most have two pairs of wings. And most are nocturnal.  “Like fireflies, looking for moths in lights after dark can be some of the best memories of a summer camping trip or sitting on the porch of a cabin at dusk,” said Jim Phillips, park naturalist. Phillips offers a variety of activities at Pipestem during National Moth Week to introduce park visitors to these colorful and often elusive members of the largest order of insects: Lepidoptera. Butterflies are also in this order.
Moth activities at Pipestem Resort State Park include:
July 23 – Moth Craft at 1 p.m. Create a paper plate luna moth. This activity is held at the nature center. Crafters will learn about this green-colored insect as the craft is completed. There is no charge to participate and the activity takes about 45 minutes.
July 24 – Hayride and Campfire begins at 5 p.m. at the fire pit across from the campground bathhouses. There is $1 per person charge to ride the wagon.  Early evening is a good time to begin looking for moths.
The Moth Hunt begins at 9 p.m. July 24 at the Nature Center. This activity plans to attract some moths to a sheet using a black light in order to get a close-up look at these flying nighttime insects for National Moth Week. The activity is open to any age and there is no cost.
July 25 – Gypsy Moth Display is a special program on July 25 at 12:30 p.m. Tim Brown with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture will be at the Pipestem Nature Center with displays of this invasive moth species. Gypsy moths attack trees by feeding on their leaves. Severe defoliation and mortality are most likely in stands having a high percentage of oak, the favorite food of gypsy moth caterpillar. Brown will be at the nature center from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m. to answer questions about moths, how West Virginia conducts surveys, explain how the insect traps work, and other questions visitors may have about Gypsy moths or others.
July 26 – Moth Sidewalk Art. Participants will use color chalk to create moth art from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Nature Center. All ages welcome to participate without fee.
“Godzilla vs. Mothra” will be shown at 9:15 p.m. July 26 at the campground. The outdoor venue makes this evening activity great family fun. Snacks and drinks are available to purchase. There is no fee to attend.  
To learn more about National Moth Week, visit www.nationalmothweek.org. For Pipestem State Park activities, events and facility information, go to www.pipestemresort.com or call 304-466-1800.

**DNR**

IO

IO Moth (c) High Virginia Images

Do you ever wonder what that spiny, green, spider web laced caterpillar that is crawling across your porch will be when it grows up? You should.  I found this IO Moth (Automeris io) on my Carolina Wren wintertime boot nest, a few weeks ago. It hung around on my porch for a couple of days, until it disappeared. These caterpillars have a sting which somewhat reminds one of sticking your hands in a nettle patch. The caterpillar pupae overwinters in the leaf litter as a papery cocoon.

I am sure that most of you have seen the lovely moth; which this caterpillar turns into.

IO Moth (c) 2010 High Virginia Images

Wilted Squash ?

Squash Vine Borer (c) High Virginia Images

Three things are usually to blame when our once proudly standing squash plant begin to droop, sag and just get plain yucky looking. Bacterial Wilt which is spread by squash bugs, cucumber beetles and a host of other crawling critters is very common in our area. Powdery Mildew is the white patches and splotches you see. It doesn't seem to kill the plant, unless it gets real bad. It just makes things unsightly. I think most of mine that ends up in the garden comes from some upwind phlox plants.

The one thing that kills my plants is the Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae) this strange looking moth lays eggs in the stems of young squash plants. The plump cream colored caterpillar then feeds inside the hollow squash stems, sometimes quickly killing the plant. My white patty pan squash seem to be the favorite for these moths. You have to admit, though that the moth is kind of cool looking.

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors

What's In Your Corn?

Corn Earworm Moth (c) High Virginia Images

We all expect the nasties when we pull back the shuck from our homegrown corn. Ugly caterpillars of several species can be found. The most common is the Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea), this caterpillar feeds upon corn, tomato, tobacco and cotton plants. The only good thing that could possibly be said of this pest; is that it turns into a moth that isn't too bad looking.

I Wonder Why

I am puzzled as to why this Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) would choose to lay her eggs on an alunimum porch ceiling; instead of a host plant? I found her laying eggs this evening. Host plants for this species are sunflower,cherry,maple and willow. There are numerous cherry and maple trees within site of this location. There are cherry trees within 15 yards. Nature tends to make the observant one wonder..

(c) High Virginia Images  All Rights Reserved 2012