The 2019 moth season in Plainsboro, NJ, got off to an early start with a Spring Cankerworm Moth early in the month and a Gray (as yet unidentified) towards the end of the month.
The cankerworm is definitely running early; I normally get them in mid-March, though I have had them in February before. I've even seen them in December and January! That was during the very mild winter of 2011-2012, which led to a very early spring for a number of moths locally. By contrast, Smith's NJ insect list (published in 1910) says of this species, "Moths in April or May." I've seen Spring Cankerworms in the last week of March but not so far in April, never mind May.
Other moth species I've seen in past Februaries include The Half-wing, Small Phigalia, and Green Cloverworm Moth (February has a very short species list).
A bit on the early side for this species at this location (though not unprecedented; I've found them in December). The freshest individual I've ever seen.
I'm not certain what species this moth is. At first glance, it seemed like a Common Gray, which would be extremely early. Brown-shaded Gray is more likely based on past observations.
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