Emerald Moth (Genus Synchlora), taken October 10, 2025, in Georgia, US
A beautiful emerald moth posing for pictures with a tiny wasp hitchhiker! This little green moth fluttered in front of me while I was trying to get pictures of a frog and ended up landing on a leaf that was, with a little fiddling, made perfect for photos. The larvae of this moth's genus are master camouflagers, attaching plant debris like grass seeds and flower petals to themselves to match their host plant. The tiny wasp on this moth's back seems to be some kind of spider parasitoid, though I'm not sure. Small invertebrates like pseudoscorpions and tiny wasps are commonly known to hold on tight to larger insects to hitch a ride. When you're so small, sometimes it's easier to let others do the work!
