Jon Sullivan
@joncounts@mastodon.nz  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago

I like this article in Nature Canada celebrating Canada’s (and North America’s) largest moth, the Cecropia moth. It is an excellent moth.

“Adult Cecropia moths last about two weeks. They can’t eat during this stage, since they have no digestive system or moveable mouth parts. About the only thing they can do is mate! An adult Cecropia moth is basically a work of art designed to create more works of art.”

https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/the-cecropia-moth-art-on-the-wing/

#mothodon#Lepidoptera#NatureCanada#Canada #nature
hastingsmothman
@hastingsmothman@mastodon.green  ·  activity timestamp 5 days ago

Today's #MothOfTheDay is a tiny 4mm micromoth (about a grain of rice). Micros are known by their Latin name first, with vernacular as secondary.

LOBESIA RELIQUANA (Wood Marble) A tortrix moth; ergo it spins leaves to create larvae shelters. Hard to photo in focus with 6yr old iPhone because it's so miniscule!

#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies#MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

Side on shot of a 4-5mm moth about the size of a grain of cooked rice. It faces left. It is three times as long as it is high and it holds its wings tight against its abdomen in a tented position making it look almost tubular. Its scales are a distinct marble pattern of blue, gold and rust in a very metallic sheen, each blotch edged in white. It has a small dark tuft sticking up just behind its head and an antennae which it holds close to its flank.
Side on shot of a 4-5mm moth about the size of a grain of cooked rice. It faces left. It is three times as long as it is high and it holds its wings tight against its abdomen in a tented position making it look almost tubular. Its scales are a distinct marble pattern of blue, gold and rust in a very metallic sheen, each blotch edged in white. It has a small dark tuft sticking up just behind its head and an antennae which it holds close to its flank.
Side on shot of a 4-5mm moth about the size of a grain of cooked rice. It faces left. It is three times as long as it is high and it holds its wings tight against its abdomen in a tented position making it look almost tubular. Its scales are a distinct marble pattern of blue, gold and rust in a very metallic sheen, each blotch edged in white. It has a small dark tuft sticking up just behind its head and an antennae which it holds close to its flank.