#emerald moths

[ljsbugblog]

one of my favourite moth finds of all time. Comostola laesaria has a wingspan of only 20mm, so it was truly like finding a tiny gem amongst the nighttime gumleaves.

in the closeup below you can even see tiny little hyaline sections (little bits of transparent scales, in the middle of the larger orange spots).

No common name (Comostola laesaria), April '24.

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Camouflaged Loopers: these caterpillars create their own camouflage by collecting flower petals and other bits of vegetation, then using silk to "glue" the pieces onto their bodies

Caterpillars of the wavy-lined emerald moth (Synchlora aerata) are commonly known as camouflaged loopers. In order to conceal themselves from predators, these clever little caterpillars decorate their bodies with trimmings from the plants that they feed upon, using silk to hold the pieces in place. This defense mechanism is known as adventitious protection or self-decorating behavior.

Whenever the caterpillar switches to a different host plant, it alters the camouflage to match its new surroundings, often shedding its old disguise and building a new one from scratch.

Camouflaged loopers feed on various flowers, incorporating the petals, leaves, seed pods, stamens, and other bits of plant matter into their custom-built camouflage.

Synchlora aerata can be found throughout the eastern half of North America, from southern Canada down through Texas.

The adults of this species are known as wavy-lined emerald moths; they have a pale green appearance, with several wavy white lines running across their wings, as depicted in the image below.

Sources & More Info:

Missouri Department of Conservation: The Wavy-Lined Emerald

Geometrid Caterpillars of Northeastern and Appalachian Forests: Camouflaged Loopers

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy: Wavy-Lined Emerald Moth, Master of Disguise

Maryland Biodiversity Project: Wavy-Lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerata)

Nebraskaland Magazine: The Amazing Camouflaged Looper

University of Alberta Museums: Synchlora aerata

Lake County Forest Preserves: Camouflage Revealed

[rattyexplores]

Photos 1-2 - Eucyclodes fascinans (female)

Photos 3-4 - Platyja exequialis

Photos 5-6 - Thalassodes sp.

18/12/23 - Lepidoptera spp.

QLD:WET

[behehemoths]

Light emerald moth Campaea margaritata

Moths of this color commonly lose saturation as they age, with older species being almost pure white.

Image credit: illuvis on Pixabay

[image ID: a pale green moth with a reddish tinge to the hooked forewing and white lines across the fore and hind wings

[rattyexplores]

The Caterpillar of the Four o’ Clock Moth

Dysphania numana

19/07/22

[rattyexplores]

Four o'Clock Moth Caterpillars

An iconic species to this region.

Dysphania numana, “Four o'Clock Moth”

Foodplant: Carallia brachiata

15/06/22

[rattyexplores]

Prasinocyma floresaria spotted a few days ago.

17/12/21

[rattyexplores]

Please let me in...

Pingasa chlora

12/08/21