#order lepidoptera

[moss-and-bugs]

Veiled Ear Moth (Loscopia velata)

Schiller Woods - Chicago, IL - May 15th, 2024

I wish I had more info on this moth other then their face is cool looking and they are native to North America but I devastatingly do not have more info. Their faces really are so cool though.

[witchstone]

mocker swallowtail (papilio dardanus) in the vegetable patch at a family friend's house

[moss-and-bugs]

Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon)

Schiller Woods - Chicago, IL - May 15th, 2024

I find members of this family (Family Hesperiidae) so fascinating the way their wings are shaped is so interesting and unique I feel like you wouldn't assume that they're butterflies at first

[moss-and-bugs]

Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Schiller Woods - Chicago, IL - May 15th, 2024

I gotta be honest its eyes kinda freak me out haha. This butterfly also prefers food sources such as tree sap, dung, rotting fruit, and carcasses. A weird little guy for sure haha.

[moss-and-bugs]

Hobomok Skipper (Lon hobomok)

Schiller Woods - Chicago, IL - May 15th, 2024

This day was a very good day for butterflies and skippers in particular for sure. This skipper is in the same genus as the one I posted a few days ago and both of them have very similar ranges.

[witchstone]

small orange acraea (acraea serena) from my walk today

[scorpionfucker9000]

We were talking about butterflies and moths (and subsequently, their larval stages) the other day in class and we were talking about silkworms. When we talked about silkworms and then the production of silk fabric from their fibers these girls behind me started verbally gagging and making comments on how “disgusting” it was and i’m just so sad like... let these worms live their lives... they arent hurting you, they’re actually helping you.... and also why did you take an arthropod science class if you aren’t going to appreciate all the arthropods we discuss and learn about??? you cannot love butterflies without first loving the moths. you cannot appreciate one instar of an arthropod without appreciating the other stages or the byproducts that you enjoy.

[excentricat]

When you think of animals, think of this moth, Laothoe populi. The poplar hawk-moth is found in Russia and the Middle East. It grows to have a wingspan of 7-10 cm. It tends to rest with its hind wings further forward than its forewings, contributing to its looking like a cluster of dead leaves. The portion of the hind wing that is covered is bright orange, offering the moth a chance to startle would-be predators. 

photo by Pekka Raukko