July 18, 2021 - Moths

July 17-25 is National Moth Week so here are some of the moths I’ve photographed at our lake home so far this summer.

This One-eyed Sphinx Moth is a large, spectacular moth. It can have a wingspan of 2½ to 3½ inches. It has a long tongue which it uses to drink nectar from large flowers like trumpet vine. To do that, it hovers in front of the flower like a hummingbird.

MothSphinxOneeyedSmerinthuscerisyiDunnngLakeItascaCounty20210514

An Isabella Tiger Moth has light orange wings with numerous spots. It has a wingspan of 1¾ to 2¼ inches. The thorax has a bristly or hairy look to it.

MothisabellaTigerPyrrharctiaDunningLakeItascaCounty20210624

When this Tiger Moth spreads its wings, you can see the black spots on its abdomen. Many people are familiar with the caterpillar that turns into this moth. It is called the Woolly Bear caterpillar.

MothisabellaTigerPyrrharctiaDunningLakeItascaCounty20210630

Sometimes common names of moths don’t seem to make sense. This Large Lace-border moth, however, seems very appropriately named. It has a one-inch wingspan, and all four wings have a dark, lacy border.

MothLaceborderLargeScopulalimboundataDunningLakeItascaCounty20210625

Common Lytrosis is the name of this moth. It has a two-inch wingspan. I can imagine this moth virtually disappearing if it rests on a tree with rough bark.

MothLytrosisCommonunitariaDunningLakeItascaCounty20210625

The Horned Spanworm has an intricate pattern of lines on its wings. It has a wingspan of about an inch.

MothSpanwormHornedNematocamparesistariaDunningLakeItascaCounty20210709

This Virgin Tiger Moth has an intersecting group of tan lines on its black wings. There is just a hint of color showing between the wings. See the next photo for the full story.

TigerMothVirginGrammiavirgoDunningLakeItascaCounty20210710

That hint of color in the previous photo turns out to be the orange and black pattern of the hind wings. It has a wingspan of just over two inches.

TigerMothVirginGrammiavirgoDunningLakeItascaCounty20210710