The Lunas Are Back!

North Alabama has suffered through a drought the last two years, with last year's being "exceptional". Because of this the local insect populations appear to have had significantly declined. While this means less of the pesty bugs, it also means fewer sightings of the neater ones.

Like I hadn't see a Luna moth here at all in the last couple years, while in prior years there were always some showing up in the spring.

This year, rainwise, has been different. We're basically getting normal rainfall--though technically the drought is not yet broken--and starting to see some critters that I haven't seen for awhile. I was very happy to again see one of the Lunas:



















The big, furry Cecropia moths Polyphemus moths have managed to show up each year, despite the drought, and this year was no different:


















Cool, eh?

And I don't know what this guy is, but he's certainly pullin' in Shanghai off the shortwave...


















Later this year we should be getting the big "rhinoceros" beetles. Stay tuned...