Tuesday 22 June 2010

Mount Pilchuck

Hiked up to the sub-alpine zone the next day (through some old growth hemlock-fir forest, very nice but still a snowfield above about 1000m) and was able to find one more moth: the day flying Western White-ribboned Carpet - Mesoleuca gratulata below the snow line amongst Rubus. Bugguide's description is very appropriate "GRATULATA: from the Latin "gratulatus" (to express joy or gratification at the sight of); the first yearly sighting of these pretty and conspicuous day-flying moths is gratifying because it is a sure sign of spring in the west"

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