Watson Lake resident captures 'first record' of ghost moth in Yukon

A longtime resident of Watson Lake, Yukon, has contributed to the world of science simplyby taking a picture.

This week, Peter Skerget took a photo of a fuzzyyellow and brown moth that he thought was unusual.

He then posted the image on Facebook, asking neighbours if theyhad seen such a creature before.

The CBC emailed the picture of the insect to Ottawa for identification through the National Identification Service (NIS), a federal service offered through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The service usually deals with invasive species and agricultural concerns but agreed to have a look.

Entomologist Chris Schmidt, a research scientist who contributes to efforts of the NIS, said the picture "is in fact the first documented record for the Yukon" of a four-spotted ghost moth.

The moths had previously been documented in Alaska and the southern N.W.T.

Skerget has lived in Watson Lake since 1980 and says he doesn't recall seeing a ghost moth before.

He spotted this one was clinging to the side of the Cedar Lodge Motel,which heowns and operates.

"I guess I just like nature and pay attention to stuff," Skerget said. "It was camouflaged and I looked closely and realized I had never seen one like that before."

'Valuable' evidence

Owen Lonsdale, manager of the NIS, says the picture is useful.

"It means it's the first specimen officially reported [in Yukon]. There is evidence, and it is tied to a photographic record, which is great," he said.

"It's a scientifically useful data point. This is valuablewhen we're talking about the first record for a territory."

Skergetis keeping his eyes peeled for more ghost moths.

But it seems the critter mayhave ghosted him.

"I keep looking at that spot, and it never came back," he said.