Chiricahua multidentata (Geometridae)
Denne mandags møl er en spektakulær art fra Arizonas bjerge – Chiricahua multidentata, en geometrisk. Den eneste kendte placering for denne art er på toppen af Chiricahua-bjergene ovenfor 9,000 fødder (som lige var brunet til en sprød). Forhåbentlig var branden ikke helt ødelæggende, og befolkningen vil stige i de kommende år. Før 2009 denne møl var kendt fra færre end 10 prøver, alle fanget i den lidt lavere højde på Onion Saddle i Chiricahuas. I foråret 2009 adgang til en gated vej fører til samlingen af snesevis af eksemplarer på en enkelt nat. Alle de tidligere rekorder havde været sjældne omstrejfende, der var fløjet ned til 8500′ – men den simple handling at køre en ekstra op 1000′ 500'satte samleren i det ideelle levested, og overraskende nok var denne møl almindelig! Dette ser ud til at være på niveau med kurset med de fleste insekter, meget få er faktisk sjældne, mens resten bare er svære at fange. Enten kommer de ikke frem i lyset, fourager ikke inden for armslængde, eller kun lever i svært tilgængelige levesteder. Når du opdager deres biologi (eller være heldig) du kan normalt finde dyret i overflod.
Du har måske også bemærket det regelmæssige opslag af Monday Moth – Jeg har været ude i marken de sidste to uger og haft en stak planlagte indlæg. Jeg burde begynde at blande tingene mere sammen nu!
Så, now you’ve got me wondering what this species depends upon (vegetation: food for self & progeny, shelter) and how that responds to fire…
Ja, indeed, re: things that live near roads and trails SEEM v. common vs. things that avoid same. Reminds me of a story of an older gentleman who lived I think in Owens Valley?? My moth friend said this guy had seen a particular moth only when it was below 32 dF (forgive me if I’m repeating myself), I think 27 or so, and no body believed him. Then the guys went out to try and find it. 32 F, no moth. 30 F, no moth, 27 F, this moth starts flying around. Do you know this story and/or the moth?
=) Alligevel, thanks for the post of the lofty moth.
I’m not sure I’ve heard the exact story you’re recalling – but I know of lots of examples like this. I just collected a series of Gazoryctra wielgusi in Arizona and they only fly for 15 minutes between 7:45 og 8 (later in August they fly a little earlier, but still for 15 minutter). I actually set my alarm on my phone and the first moth flew in at 7:47 and the last one at 7:58. Amazing!
Faktisk, even more subtle than this. The elevation difference is closer to 500 fødder, and the vegetation looks very much the same at the higher location than down at Rustler Park/Onion Saddle
Thanks for the clarification!
Wow, super interesting (745 – 8).
Do you know the plant species your Monday Moth depends upon?
Officially the host plant is unknown – but one female did lay eggs on a pine stem when offered a large choice of local plants. The egg’s didn’t hatch, but it’s not too unreasonable to guess pine is preferred.