A Rare Texas Moth?
Allen E. Rhodes
This moth was photographed on the ranch
where I hunt in LaSalle County, Texas, approximately
5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Los Angeles on Highway
97. The moth closely resembles Agapema solita,
a moth with no common name that is pictured in the Moths
of Texas section of the web site of the Northern
Prairie Wildlife Research Center of the U.S.
Geological Survey. The accompanying range
map does not show this moth as having been reported
in LaSalle County, but only in the two southernmost
border counties.
I have submitted a photo of this moth
to the Southern
Lepidopterists' Society and will notify The
Citizen Scientist should the Society confirm my
identification, whether as a new record for LaSalle
County, Texas, or simply of the identification.
This experience made me curious about
the Io moth I described in an earlier "Gallery" ("Here's
Looking at You ," 1 July 2005).
I checked the range
map, and learned that it also has not been previously
reported from LaSalle County.
I would have to say that LaSalle county
is some new territory for a grad student to survey.
Readers, Allen Rhodes' experience
is a valuable lesson for the rest of us. Please become
familiar with the native plants and animals in your
region and check to see if they are listed for your
area. If not, please do as Allen has and send us a sharp
photo of your find along with relevant details. Your
contribution should be sent as a JPEG to "Gallery"
together with your first and last name. More details
are given below. Editor.
Wanted: Gallery Contributions
Contributions to "Gallery" are welcomed. Please submit
sharp JPEG photographs and a caption of from a few sentences
to several paragraphs. Be sure to include the full name(s)
of any people in your submission. To the best of your
ability, provide both the common name and the genus
and species of any plants or animals. Common names are
lower case, as in the live oak tree. The genus is capitalized
and the species is not, as in: The live oak (Quercus
virginiana) keeps its leaves during winter. Also provide
information about the camera that made the photograph.
Send your contribution as an e-mail
to the Editor.
Place "Gallery" in the subject line. Be sure to include
your full name. Attach the photograph as a JPEG.
Thank you for considering The Citizen Scientist.
Editor. 
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