Aug. 2, 2020 - Moths

National Moth Week is listed as the last week in July, which I interpreted to mean this past week. No, it must be the last FULL week in July because this year it was July 18-26. So, a week late, here are some moths I photographed at our lake home in northern Minnesota this year.


Many moths are very drab looking, but this is a colorful species. I submitted it to BugGuide.net for identification and the experts there said it was probably a Comstock’s Sallow. They couldn’t be sure because there are some other moths that are similar in appearance. It has a wingspan of about 1½ inches.

MothSallowComstock'sFeraliacomstockimaybeDunningLakeItascaCounty20200518

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I often leave the porch light on to attract moths at night. They land on the outside wall of our house or on the deck and sometimes I’m able to coax them onto a stick for a better photo. This Virginian Tiger Moth was very cooperative. This species has pure white wings with a variable number of black dots. It has a wingspan of 1¼ to 2 inches.

MothVirginianTigerSpilosomavirginicaDunningLakeItascaCounty20200614

A side view of the Virginian Tiger Moth shows the orange color on its forelegs.

MothVirginianTigerSpilosomavirginicaDunningLakeItascaCounty20200607

While most moths spread their wings flat when they land, some fold them in a tent shape like this Sigmoid Prominent.

MothProminentSigmoidClosteraalbosigmaDunningLakeItascaCounty20200614

Here’s a Sigmoid Prominent with its wings spread flat. This gives a better view of the color pattern. It has a wingspan of 1 1/8 to 1½ inches.

MothProminentSigmoidClosteraalbosigmaDunningLakeItascaCounty20200614

A Pondside Pyralid Moth has intricately patterned wings. An internet search found surprisingly little information about this species except that it has a wingspan of 5/8 to 1 inch.

MothPyralidPondsideElophilaicciusalisDunningLakeItascaCounty20200629

Sometimes I find a moth during the day. This Virgin Tiger Moth was resting on our lawn when I was cutting the grass one day. It has an interesting pattern of tan and black on its wings.

MothVirginTigerGrammiavirgoDunningLakeItascaCounty20200707

When the Virgin Tiger Moth spreads its forewings, it reveals its very colorful hind wings. This moth has a wingspan of 2¼ inches.

MothVirginTigerGrammiavirgoDunningLakeItascaCounty20200707