Rivers of Gold

A few images from my weekend mothing trip down to Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County. Early spring along the central coast is stunning, and the back roads were packed with flower watchers. There were dozens of cars occupied by families out for a weekend drive, many had packed lunches and sat to watch the flowers grow. While I am happy to see people enjoying the natural beauty, it is difficult to see the damage their trampling can cause. Однак, if more people could get out to appreciate nature, perhaps it would be easier to protect. The flowers were so bright and dense it was difficult to focus on moths, and after a few hours I started to go a little snow-blind (or as it shall forever be now known, flower-blind). Here are a few feeble attempts to capture the beauty.

Grinter Shell Creek

(more images after the break)

Grinter Schinia feedingMost likely a Schinia species feeding here.

Grinter Heliolonche joaquinensis Heliothodes diminutiva

Heliolonche joaquinensis

Grinter Xanthothrix neumoegeni Xanthothrix neumoegeni

Grinter Adela thorpellaThis is Adela thorpella, or a fairy moth. Note the incredibly long antennae.

Grinter Shell Creek

The full list of Lepidoptera seen for the day:

Метелики

Heliothodes diminutiva(Совки)

Heliolonche joaquinensis (Совки)

Heliolonche modicella (Совки)

Schinia crotchii (Совки)

Schinia amaryllis (Совки)

Schinia pulchripennis (Совки)

Xanthothrix neumoegeni (Совки)

Axenus arvalis (Совки)

Achyra occidentalis (Crambidae)

Adela thorpella (Adelidae)

Метелики

Danaus plexippus

Адмірал

Coenonympha tullia

Anthocharis sara

Colias eurytheme

Everes amyntula

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

Plebejus Акмон

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