moth nest

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Nest

moth nest

Common Name: Eastern tent caterpillar moth

Scientific Name: Malacosoma americana

Season: One generation, with caterpillars appearing first in April into late May, and adults by June.

Food: Caterpillars feed primarily on cherry trees, but may build nests on apple and crabapple as well.

Ecology*: As the name implies, the caterpillars of this moth form a silken nest in the crotch of tree branches, where caterpillars rest and molt. Caterpillars that leave the nest “scout” for leaves to feed from, dragging a trail of silk behind them that other caterpillars will follow. When the caterpillars reach their final molt, they leave the nest to pupate, and may be found several plants away from their actual host plant.

*Contrary to popular belief, a nest of tent caterpillars in your cherry tree will not outright kill the plant, and within a month’s time, trees recover. Adults produce a spongy mass of eggs on twigs of their host plant, which will overwinter.

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Eyed Paectes

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Common name: Eyed paectes, Fishers Island, NY, June 2017

Scientific name: Paectes oculatrix

Season: There are multiple generations of eyed paectes in the Northeast, with adults present by April through the fall.

Food: As caterpillars, they feed exclusively on poison ivy.

Ecology: Eyed paectes hold their abdomens upward while resting, which, in this photo, makes it appear as if they are T-shaped.

Atlantic Torpedo ray

Everybody in East Harbor Loves Raymond!

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To me it feels unusually autumnal within some of these June moments; a northerly wind gusts and rustles the lush green leaves that then become silver. Against an utterly blue sky an egret coasts and swoops looking like some origami ornament overhead.

But then again, there is still the usual summer feel – ferries offloading more cars, returning college students arriving early for summer jobs, the scent of cut grass awaits families, even boats and moorings are united again.

When our Island Sentinel team monitors East Harbor it’s not unusual for us to count the vessels that start rafting up in July and August – just off the Golf Course next to the old red roofed Coast Guard Station. Data suggests each year there seems to be more boats, I am grateful though that each year there seems to be less rubbish and marine debris along these sands; to me a sign of good neighborly stewardship.

There is a healthy and lush Eelgrass meadow within that Harbor too. I bring this up so boaters will be extremely mindful not to drag anchor and impact this unique habitat.

And then there is “Raymond. The Fish team at Mystic Aquarium helped me to identify a stranded Atlantic Torpedo ray (torpedo nobiliana) which Island Sentinel Olivia Backhaus discovered this month while recording morning observations at low tide up East. Come to find out Raymond “can produce an electric charge of about 170-220 volts. “Not enough to kill a healthy human, but it would knock ya for a loop!” That same morning the unique creature was ever so gently assisted back into the harbor.

So as we enjoy the glorious days of summer, so thankful for Fishers Island Sound with seagrass habitat that’s willing and able to recover, we can all remind each other to tread lightly because “Everybody loves Raymond”.

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Giant Leopard Moth

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Common name: Giant Leopard Moth

Scientific name: Hypercompe scribonia, Fishers Island NY. June 2017.

Season: One generation a year in the Northeast, with adults in June, caterpillars through the summer and over the winter, then turn into pupae the following spring.

Food: A variety of broadleaf plants, such as dandelions and violets.

Ecology: A large moth, with a wingspan of three inches, lives up to its name, having many spots akin to a leopard. It has a beautiful metallic blue and orange abdomen hiding beneath its large wings. Mating sessions last more than 24 hours. When startled, the moth may emit yellow drops of liquid from the sides of its body. This is believed to be a defense against predators (who might taste the liquid and find the moth disgusting!).

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Grapeleaf Skeletonizer

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Common name: Grapeleaf skeletonizer, Fishers Island NY, June 2017

Scientific name: Harrisina americana

Season: At least two generations in the Northeast.

Food: Adults feed on grape leaves and the nectar of many flowers.

Ecology: Caterpillars are gregarious feeders (i.e., feed together in large groups) and are able to defoliate grapes, eating grape leaves down to the stems. They can be occasional pests in the Northeast, especially for vineyards. Otherwise, they are a welcome addition to the forest.

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Gray-edged Hypena

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Common name: Gray-edged hypena, Fishers Island NY, June 2017

Scientific name: Hypena madefactalis 

Season: One generation per year, adults common by June.

Food: As caterpillars, the gray-edged hypena feeds exclusively on walnut, and in the Northeast, black walnut (Juglans nigra) is its favorite.

Ecology: The gray-edged hypena, like many moths and caterpillars, are specialist feeders, meaning they depend on only one or two kinds of plants to survive.