Tootfinder

Yesterday I found a squash vine borer (Eichlinia cucurbitae) egg on one of my zucchini. I highly recommend examining stems, leaves, and flower stalks several times per week so they can be removed before the larvae emerge. Swarthmore, PA, USA. Zone 7b. #zucchini #squash #garden #allotment #sesiidae #lepidoptera #pests

We need more articles in nature and conservation magazines about the evils of bug zappers. Americans still think they work and seem to be OK with the billions of innocent insects that are killed each year. Moth people, I'm looking at you. #BugZappers #moths #lepidoptera #insects #mothing #entomology

Did you know that bug zappers can be defanged and used to attract moths? I don't know how to do it safely but perhaps somebody can chime in. Proof of concept is on this webpage about a moth night event in Vermont. #MothNight #mothing #blacklight #blacklighting #moths #UV #insects #lepidoptera #inaturalist https://val.vtecostudies.org/newsfeed/val-updating-the-checklist-of-vermont-moths/

Sharing my solution to squash vine borers (Eichlinia cucurbitae), the larvae of which burrow into the roots and eventually kill the plant: inject Thuricide Bt into stem wherever you see frass accumulating. This is easier to do if you train your plant vertically so that lower parts are visible. I also regularly police for eggs. #garden #gardening #squash #zucchini #vegetables #allotment #insects #lepidoptera #moths

Fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria). If you have a moment to enlarge the image, check out the reduced 3rd proleg on the left-hand side of the loop, toward the bottom. Most lineages of the Geometridae have lost this A5 proleg completely, so this is very useful for identification. Fast-moving, arboreal caterpillars tend to have reduced numbers of prolegs. The standard in Lepidoptera is 5 pairs. #caterpillar #geometridae #inchworm #moth #lepidoptera #insects #nature #prolegs #evolution #nature