Showing posts tagged moth

Argentine Cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)

The Argentine Cactus Moth (aka Cactoblastis cactus moth) is a small (22-35 mm) grayish-brown moth. The larvae are 25-30 mm in length and bright orangish-red with large dark spots that form cross bands. The eggs are laid in a series of up to 140 that creates a chain, looking like a stick or spine on the surface of the prickly pear pad (cladode). Upon hatching the larvae burrow into the pad and begin feeding gregariously on the tissues. This feeding consumes the cladode completely and the larvae move to other ones before pupation…

(read more: Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum - Invaders)

Cactus Moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)

aka South American Cactus Moth or Nopal Moth

…is native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. It is one of five species in the genus Cactoblastis that inhabit South America, where many parasitoids and pathogens control the expansion of the moth’s population.

This species has been introduced into many areas outside its natural range, including Australia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. In some locations, it has spread uncontrollably and was consequently classified an invasive species. However, in other places such as Australia, it has gained favor for its role in the biological control of prickly pear cacti from the genus Opuntia…

(read more: Wikipedia)                                    (photos: USDA)

Tussore Silk Moth (Antheraea mylitta), family Saturniidae, India (photo: Butterfly House | Flickr) View high resolution

Tussore Silk Moth (Antheraea mylitta), family Saturniidae, India

(photo: Butterfly House | Flickr)

(Reblogged from sagittariidae)

Close up Moth Porn:  Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor)

The Elephant Hawk-moth is a medium-sized hawk-moth, on the wing from May to July and active at dusk. Found across Eurasia. It is commonly found in parks and gardens, as well as woodland edges, rough grassland and sand dunes.

The caterpillars are seen from July to September and are very characteristic: greyish-green or brown with two enormous, black eyespots towards the head. When disturbed, they swell up to show these spots and scare-off predators. The caterpillars feed on willowherbs, fuchsia and bedstraw, and the adults feed on nectar. The caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides, hidden amongst low vegetation or in the soil…

(read more: Wildlife Trusts UK)              (video: Steve Burrows)

I wear my sunglasses at night. With apologies to Corey Hart; in fact, the precisely nanostructured surface of a nocturnal moth’s eyes, like those of this Elephant hawk-moth, is almost the opposite of sunglasses. The tiny nipple-shaped protuberances all over the surface of the eyes maximize the amount of light that enters the eye instead of reflecting off. This both increases the sensitivity of the moth’s eyesight, and reduces eye-shine that might be spotted by predators out looking for a tasty lepidopteran snack. That’s not their only trick, either. Check out the other functional adaptation of moth eyes at http://eol.org/pages/508359/details#functional_adaptations (Photo: Randers Fjord via Biopix) (via: Encyclopedia of Life) View high resolution

I wear my sunglasses at night.

With apologies to Corey Hart; in fact, the precisely nanostructured surface of a nocturnal moth’s eyes, like those of this Elephant hawk-moth, is almost the opposite of sunglasses. The tiny nipple-shaped protuberances all over the surface of the eyes maximize the amount of light that enters the eye instead of reflecting off. This both increases the sensitivity of the moth’s eyesight, and reduces eye-shine that might be spotted by predators out looking for a tasty lepidopteran snack.

That’s not their only trick, either. Check out the other functional adaptation of moth eyes at http://eol.org/pages/508359/details#functional_adaptations

(Photo: Randers Fjord via Biopix)

(via: Encyclopedia of Life)

dendroica:panecopanorama: A newly emerged Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila porcellus) climbs to the top of a lichen encrusted twig somewhere near Stockholm, Sweden, to let its wings dry. (photo: John Hallmen | Flickr)

dendroica:panecopanorama:

A newly emerged Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila porcellus) climbs to the top of a lichen encrusted twig somewhere near Stockholm, Sweden, to let its wings dry.

(photo: John Hallmen | Flickr)

(Reblogged from dendroica)
Who’s living in your oatmeal? If you don’t store it in a tightly sealed container, this pretty little moth might be. The Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, may be the most important pest of dried goods in homes and food storage facilities world wide. The larvae feed on a broad range of grains and dried goods, including seeds, dried fruit, rice, pasta, bread, dog food, and spices. Flying adults moths are signs of an infestation. The adults do not feed, just live to mate, and a female lays between 50-400 eggs in available dried foods. More about this moth on EOL: http://eol.org/pages/952934/details (Image by Stanislav Krejčík via BioLib.cz) View high resolution

Who’s living in your oatmeal?

If you don’t store it in a tightly sealed container, this pretty little moth might be.

The Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, may be the most important pest of dried goods in homes and food storage facilities world wide. The larvae feed on a broad range of grains and dried goods, including seeds, dried fruit, rice, pasta, bread, dog food, and spices. Flying adults moths are signs of an infestation. The adults do not feed, just live to mate, and a female lays between 50-400 eggs in available dried foods.

More about this moth on EOL: http://eol.org/pages/952934/details

(Image by Stanislav Krejčík via BioLib.cz)

Caterpillar ID

Hey, sorry to bother you, but could you possibly ID this little sucker? We found it in Northern California if that helps. Please and thank you! uwu

image

Paxon:

No bother at all! I love caterpillar ID. This is the larva of the Western Tussock Moth (Orgyia vetusta). They feed on a variety of plants, and the the adult females are wingless/flightless. Here are some pics…

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/lepidopt/lymantriidae/OrgyiaVetusta.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_tussock_moth

Two New Moth Species Revealed in Russia by Douglas Main Two new species of previously unknown moths, Ypsolopha melanofuscella and Ypsolopha straminella, have been discovered in the Russian Far East, northeast of Mongolia. The insects strike a unique pose when resting, sticking their hind section into the air and extending their antennae forward onto the ground, or the surface of a leaf, according to a new study describing the animals. The moths may have gone undiscovered for so long because they are difficult to collect; unlike most moths, they don’t usually fly toward lights, a common method of capturing insects for identification, according to the study, published recently in the journal ZooKeys… (read more: Our Amazing Planet)         (photo: Yu Semeikin)

Two New Moth Species Revealed in Russia

by Douglas Main

Two new species of previously unknown moths, Ypsolopha melanofuscella and Ypsolopha straminella, have been discovered in the Russian Far East, northeast of Mongolia. The insects strike a unique pose when resting, sticking their hind section into the air and extending their antennae forward onto the ground, or the surface of a leaf, according to a new study describing the animals.

The moths may have gone undiscovered for so long because they are difficult to collect; unlike most moths, they don’t usually fly toward lights, a common method of capturing insects for identification, according to the study, published recently in the journal ZooKeys…

(read more: Our Amazing Planet)         (photo: Yu Semeikin)

Caterpillars plate 24 fromHistoire naturelle de la France: Papillons. (1884).12e Partie. Jean Étienne Bercé. (via: Vintage Printable) View high resolution

Caterpillars

plate 24 fromHistoire naturelle de la France: Papillons. (1884).12e Partie. Jean Étienne Bercé.

(via: Vintage Printable)

sinobug: Stinging Nettle Slug Caterpillar (“Cup Moth”, family Limacodidae) Cup Moth larvae are often highly ornamented and brightly colored. Two main types can be distinguished: larvae armed with rows of protuberances bearing stinging spines called nettle caterpillars, or non-spined forms where the surface of the larvae may by completely smooth, called gelatine caterpillars. The larvae of this family bear no prolegs on their abdominal segments. The larva attaches itself to the substrate by means of an adhesive ventral surface. The movement is like a slug hence their generic name. A stinging slug caterpillar (like this one) generally bears warning colouration and stinging hairs. These hairs can inject a venom from poison sacs carried at their base that are used as defensive weapons. Reactions can range from a mild itching to a very painful sting. by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr. Pu’er, Yunnan, China View my other images of Limacodid Caterpillars from China (Beijing and Yunnan) in the set, Limacodid (Cup Moth) Caterpillars. View the best of other Flickr members images of Limacodid Caterpillars in the gallery, Nettle/Slug Caterpillars of the Limacodidae (Cup Moths). View high resolution

sinobug:

Stinging Nettle Slug Caterpillar (“Cup Moth”, family Limacodidae)

Cup Moth larvae are often highly ornamented and brightly colored. Two main types can be distinguished: larvae armed with rows of protuberances bearing stinging spines called nettle caterpillars, or non-spined forms where the surface of the larvae may by completely smooth, called gelatine caterpillars. The larvae of this family bear no prolegs on their abdominal segments. The larva attaches itself to the substrate by means of an adhesive ventral surface. The movement is like a slug hence their generic name.

A stinging slug caterpillar (like this one) generally bears warning colouration and stinging hairs. These hairs can inject a venom from poison sacs carried at their base that are used as defensive weapons. Reactions can range from a mild itching to a very painful sting.

by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr.
Pu’er, Yunnan, China

View my other images of Limacodid Caterpillars from China (Beijing and Yunnan) in the set, Limacodid (Cup Moth) Caterpillars.

View the best of other Flickr members images of Limacodid Caterpillars in the gallery, Nettle/Slug Caterpillars of the Limacodidae (Cup Moths).

(Reblogged from sinobug)

sinobug:

Hawk Moth (Macroglossum p. prometheus) family  Sphingidae

The main image appears as representative of this species on the website, Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic (including Siberia, the Russian Far East, Mongolia, China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and Japan.)

This is the first (databased) record of this species from China.

by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr.
Pu’er, Yunnan, China

See more Chinese moths on my Flickr site HERE…

(Reblogged from sinobug)
pokos-photos: I found this pretty moth on the border of Guatemala and Honduras. I would have caught it, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was on the building of the border check and I was in line to show my passport. It was big, 10 centimeters wide at the very least. Paxon: I got this one for you Pokkun. This is a silkmoth (family Saturniidae) found from Mexico to Colombia, called Antheraea godmani. I don’t believe it has a common name in English. It’s a male. http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/kwagodmani.htm http://www.saturniidae-web.de/Antheraea_godmani.htm View high resolution

pokos-photos:

I found this pretty moth on the border of Guatemala and Honduras. I would have caught it, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was on the building of the border check and I was in line to show my passport. It was big, 10 centimeters wide at the very least.

Paxon:

I got this one for you Pokkun. This is a silkmoth (family Saturniidae) found from Mexico to Colombia, called Antheraea godmani. I don’t believe it has a common name in English. It’s a male.

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/kwagodmani.htm

http://www.saturniidae-web.de/Antheraea_godmani.htm

(Reblogged from pokos-photos)

clusterpod:

Case Moth caterpillars, family Psychidae, use silk and plant materials to build a case around themselves, and extend their head and thorax to feed. There is a rear opening for excreta.

This individual, probably Clania lewinii has fixed its case to the branch with a loop of silk. When disturbed it retreated inside the case, and tightened the loop, drawing the case opening up under the twig. Neat.

(Reblogged from invertebrate-science)
Caterpillar of the Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) - found across Europe, the moth is named for the diet of its larvae which is a noxious plant called leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). (photo: J. Gallego) View high resolution

Caterpillar of the Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae)

- found across Europe, the moth is named for the diet of its larvae which is a noxious plant called leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).

(photo: J. Gallego)