Duskywing in Cowlitz County
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Last Saturday, March 18th I decided to visit Carrolls Bluff near Kalama, WA -- a spot Robert Michael Pyle recommended in his talk through the Longview Library at the end of 2021. It was early, but we had that stretch of 3 days at just over 60 degrees and I decided to scope it out. It felt very much like the end of winter, I saw two types of flowers. A couple patches of a Veronica blooming and three single Cardamine that were not even fully open. And almost no butterflies. As I approached the top of the hill I came upon a sunny corridor. I was excited to see a few 1 inch moths fluttering around -- my first leps of the day! And then. A creature almost double their size glided overhead. I couldn't get a photo, but it had the distinct oval-wedge silhouette of a duskywing with a protruding head and strong clubs on the antenna. I waited a while and returned once, but wouldn't see it again. The mid-March sighting, the location and apparent size made me intrigued. Could it be a Propertius? I'm happy to give more info about the exact location if someone wants to follow up. I did manage to get a semi-helpful photo of one of the moths when it landed. And note, the hilltop has been recently clearcut.  |
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tlpyle@...
Michael, That's terrific! On those two days I saw several each of the first two early geometers on the wing here in Gray's River, Mesoleuca gratulata and Enchoria lacteata, the latter more abundant, nectaring on ornamental Spiraea. Your moth photo could be a Mesoleuca, with that big white patch. As for the duskywing, wow! There is a diurnal erebioid moth common at Carrolls in spring that perches on the ground and much resembles a duskywing in flight, but if you saw the clubbed antennae, that lets them out. I have found E. persius fairly common just above the bluffs on a logging road, but later in the spring. And E. propertius--I have looked long and hard to find it at Carrolls or anywhere in Cowlitz County, where it definitely "should" occur! It is common two counties east in Skamania, an occurs to the north in Thurston, but has never been recorded in between in Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, or Lewis counties, all with Oregon white oak. So that would be phenomenal if you found it there. That's a very early date for it, but not impossible. E. persius would be a little larger than the moths, and very blackish when fresh. E. propertius would be somewhat lighter and more grizzled, although that early it would surely be a male and pretty dark; and larger, though certainly not two inches--maybe 1.5. Perhaps you could have another look, or Caitlin (who lives nearby), or any other lepists passing by Longview--IF we ever have any more compliaint weather! If it indeed occurs there, it has certainly eluded me! G. lygdamus, C. echo, and A. julia are among the early fliers there most years, and John Hinchliff found C. mossii there, though that dot was somehow omitted from our newer field guide's map. Thanks for reporting! I like your field notes. Bob P. On 2023-03-26 10:47 pm, Michael Bunsen wrote:
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Hi Bob, Thanks for your notes! I will look more into Mesoleuca gratulata and Enchoria lacteata. I've been curious to know more about the early moths. I can make another Carrolls adventure between April 6th and April 9th, as long as the sun is up for one as well. I'm dying to see some orange tips! Do you usually park near the rock quarry, walk in there? That's what I did at least. I followed a decommissioned road up the hill from the quarry, then under the powerlines and up to the top where there was another old logging road -- so possibly just where you have seen E. perseus. But the early date and seemingly-larger size described in your and Caitlin's book made me wonder if it could be the "oak skipper". I feel good about confirming clubs on the antenna, even though it was a brief glide-over. Michael On Mon, Mar 27, 2023 at 1:37 PM <tlpyle@...> wrote:
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