Chionodes fondella

No records of this species at MPG or BAMONA for Minnesota.

https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=2076
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Chionodes-fondella

comments (15)

Christine Young

Lion

Looks like we both did some mothing last night! I used my blacklight for awhile and was surprised not just by how many more moths came, but also by the number of caddisflies! There were tons of tiny caddisflies crawling all over the blacklight tube. Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  I'm going to have to try a blacklight. It was very cold again here last night and some places got a light frost. I'm hoping this week will have at least a few warmer nights like the forecast predicts. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    The blacklight definitely gets results. It works best with a sheet, but I also use it just like a normal light when I don't feel like hanging a sheet. And, ugh...frost in June! I hope your nights warm up soon! Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      I wonder if I could place the blacklight behind the sheet? Yep, June frosts are not unusual here. A few years ago there was a frost on June 21. It damaged my squash seedlings but I managed to save most by going out and covering them with hay. I got about 500 pounds of winter squash that year anyway. Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Hmm, good question. I've never tried putting it behind the sheet.
        
        June 21st is nuts for a frost! The weirdest weather I've seen was snow in early May in Maine, and I don't think that was all that weird for Maine.
        
        500 lbs of squash?! Wow! Are you a farmer, or you just really like squash? Posted 6 years ago
      2. Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        I used to sell winter squash at the farmers market plus I like squash. What I didn't eat or sell I fed to my chickens (no longer have those) and sheep (still have four). Posted 6 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        By the way, Gary, did you see the moth week invite:
        https://www.jungledragon.com/forum/2/campfire/845/national_moth_week_2019.html
        
        Would be awesome if you'd join! Posted 6 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        I signed up last year but never got any confirmation for some reason but I will try again this year. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Sorry, what do you mean signed up? Posted 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh, I think Gary is talking about signing up on the National Moth Week website....
        
        @Gary, JungleDragon also participates in moth week. See forum post here for details: https://www.jungledragon.com/forum/2/campfire/845/national_moth_week_2019.html Posted 6 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        That's right. I was thinking of the National Moth Week. Didn't read all the words in the link. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        My (newfound) understanding is that one ideally has a direct line of sight between the blacklight and moths you want to attract. A cloth reduces that. Of course, if it's still the only light source in the area and powerful enough, perhaps plenty can still come, but it's not ideal.
        
        In my experience last year in Colombia, yes, the back side of the cloth also had moths, but probably only 10% of the front side which had the UV light in direct sight.
        
        I also learned that the typical cloth used isn't ideal either. A bed sheet has artificial whiteners that make it look paler than it really is. Supposedly, this absorbs a lot of the UV, whilst you want to maximize the UV directed towards the moths. For maximum attraction, white plastic sheets are better, as these reflect UV, they don't absorb it.
        
        Yet plastic sheets are ugly, and problematic for flash. All of the above is based on info I got from a moth *collector* but our interest is in photography, so a different goal. Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        What about white paper or tag board? I've been placing white paper behind the glass on my screen door and don't seem to have much of an issue with flash and glare. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        White paper may be in fact be better than textile, but that just my gut feeling, not sure how much light it absorbs, but it certainly won't reflect as much. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Interesting...I think I'm going to try white poster board. Posted 6 years ago

The Chionodes fondella

''Chionodes fondella'' is a moth in the Gelechiidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Nova Scotia to southern Manitoba, Montana, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

The wingspan is 13–14 mm. The forewings are whitish ochreous, with each scale darker at the tip, and with a faint roseate tinge. There are two large conspicuous black costal spots, one at the basal third outwardly oblique, and the other at the apical third inwardly.. more

Info 3 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Gary B

By Gary B

Uploaded Jun 2, 2019. Captured Jun 1, 2019 22:47 in 4408 Miller Rd, Barnum, MN 55707, USA.

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Canon EOS Rebel T6
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ISO800
100mm