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merg68.bsky.social
@merg68.bsky.social
29 followers 42 following 100 posts
US birder, moth-er and all around lover of nature.

Sightings are from Southeastern Pennsylvania unless otherwise noted.

Always dreaming of Northumberland.
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merg68.bsky.social
2 days of trapping and I got a single moth. Bi-colored Sallow.

The only things that made up for it was a calling Barred Owl in my yard and a Pileated Woodpecker in the yard.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
October 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Late in posting last weekend. I had 8 Bronzed Cutworms, a Master’s Dart, Venerable Dart and an Aethes moth ( possibly an Aethes angustana.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
October 2, 2025 at 2:16 AM
merg68.bsky.social
At the porch light last night. The Gem and the Grateful Midget.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
September 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
merg68.bsky.social
This past weekend was so slow. I had several Bronzed Cutworm moths, Common Loopers, a Filbertworm Moth and a Faint-Spotted Palthis.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
September 23, 2025 at 1:54 AM
merg68.bsky.social
Just back from a wonderful trip to Anglesey and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Was greeted by this beauty upon my return…a Pale Beauty. Usually the first and last moths of my season.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
September 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Red-billed Chough at South Stack, Anglesey, Wales.
#walesbirding
#ukbirding
#ukbirds
September 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
merg68.bsky.social
Hoverfly in a back garden in Jesmond, Newcastle.
#hoverfly
#hoverflies
#insects
September 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
merg68.bsky.social
Is there a reliable area at South Stack on Anglesey to see Red Choughs and are they around this time of year?

Thanks.
#ukbirds
#ukbirding
#walesbirds
September 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
merg68.bsky.social
No trapping recently but I did get a Black-dotted Ruddy and a Cloaked Marvel at the porch light and a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in the yard.
#teammoth
#moths
#aepamoths
September 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
merg68.bsky.social
No -moth observations from the past weekend include Lesser anglewing Katydid and a European Hornet.
#insects
#nature
August 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
merg68.bsky.social
It’s starting to get really slow lately. Only moths of note this past weekend were a Yellow-striped Armyworm, Gold-striped Grass-veneer and a Dusky Groundling.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
merg68.bsky.social
A bit slow posting last weekends finds. New ones for me: Greater Black-letter Dart and Black-bordered Lemon.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Pine Tree Spur-throat grasshopper on the back of the house this evening.
#grasshopper
#insects
#nature
August 15, 2025 at 2:30 AM
merg68.bsky.social
Red-headed Inchworm Moth seen while out feeding the hens the other night.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Incredibly slow night. Two new moths for now and a couple of returns…Morning Glory Plume and a Coastal Plain Megonola. Along with a Garden Tortrix and a Delicate Cycnia.

#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Last Saturday I had an Apantesis moth that I can’t nail down an ID on and 2 weeks ago I had a Reticulated Fruitworm moth.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Last Saturday moths. Several new ones for me. Delicate Cycnia, Labyrinth Moth, Large Mossy Glyph.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Also had an Honest Pero last night.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Moths from last night. The temp dropped and so did the numbers. Changeable Grass-veneer chilling with a Juniper Geometer, Faint-Spotted Palthis, Black-smudged Chionodes and Waterlily Leafcutter.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
August 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
merg68.bsky.social
A few new ones from last night. Pink-barred Pseudeustrotia Moth, Tufted Apple Bud and One-spotted Variant.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
July 26, 2025 at 7:21 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Oblong-winged Katydid on the back porch.
#katydids
#insects
July 25, 2025 at 2:13 AM
merg68.bsky.social
Question…I’ll be heading over to the UK in early September. I,d love to get a few moths while I’m there but won’t have any equipment. Does anybody have any experience with using a black light flashlight? I thought that maybe I could use one of those and a white shirt (or something).
#teammoth
July 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Didn’t trap last night but found these 2 hanging about…Black-dotted Ruddy and a Green Cloverworm.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
July 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Swamp Cicada has been around for a couple nights and ended up in my moth trap last night.
#cicadas
#insects
July 20, 2025 at 2:54 PM
merg68.bsky.social
Still rainy last night so it was a little slow but I did get Crowned Slug and a Catalpa Sphinx (both new) and a BENT-lined Carpet along with tubeworms and grass-veneers.
#teammoth
#moths
#sepamoths
July 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM