Winter Insects!

An active moth created a lot of excitement in our house on Feb. 3rd! Perhaps I had manifested it by dreaming of warmer weather to come! It is in the genus "Caradrina" and I'm still waiting identification at the species level. It is a member of the cutworms and Dart Moths.

Insects can be found in the winter months, but they are usually not adults at this time of year. Cocoons built by the Cecropia Moth caterpillar overwinter on twigs. I have spotted 2 Cecropia Moth Cocoons this winter. Hopefully they will survive and the adults will emerge in late spring. The Cecropia adult is North America's largest native moth

Another stage for overwintering is at the egg stage. Above, a Praying Mantis egg case is attached to a rose bush. About 100 miniature praying mantis's will emerge in mid-to late spring.

Katydid eggs! The one and only time I have found these.

A Bruce Spanworm Moth was active in early December

Fall Cankerworm Moth - wingless female, also found in early December.

A species of Tiger Moth (larva) walked across the snow on a sunny day.

The Goldenrod Gall Fly (larva) spends the winter inside the "Ball Gall." Galls are more often noticed in the winter when leaves have fallen off surrounding plants. During the growth process in the summer, the 'ball' grows around the developing larva. The larva will pupate and spend the winter inside the gall waiting for spring to emerge. Sometimes birds such as Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees will peck a hole in the gall and extract the juicy meal!

Goldenrod Elliptical-gall Moth: