Depending on your German regional dialect, this moth is known as the "totenkopf" butterfly... translated (death's head) or (skull)( and crossbones).
The moth has long been associated with death and the supernatural in folklore, art, and literature due to the marking and its ability to produce an audible squeak when disturbed.
It was notably featured in the movie The Silence of the Lambs!
@UltraDane #globalmuseum #moths #insects
OK. Four more moths. These are the four species that were new to our garden this spring.
I've been consistently putting out the moth light four nights every season since July 2021 and I'm still finding new species.
Blackheaded Leafroller, *Ctenopseustis obliquana*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689
Golden-brown Fern Moth, *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764
*Tingena melinella*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772
Golden-brown Fern Moth *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764
They're all native moths. Welcome to our garden.
OK. Four more moths. These are the four species that were new to our garden this spring.
I've been consistently putting out the moth light four nights every season since July 2021 and I'm still finding new species.
Blackheaded Leafroller, *Ctenopseustis obliquana*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689
Golden-brown Fern Moth, *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764
*Tingena melinella*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772
Golden-brown Fern Moth *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764
They're all native moths. Welcome to our garden.
Wait, I've got more moths! (Yes, it's your lucky day.)
(Species names are in the alt-text)
The #AutomatedMothTrap outside my house in #Canberra had been offline for a couple of weeks, because it was crashing each night. It's fixed now, and the #moths are getting much more prominent as the weather warms up here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/albums/72177720322426621
The problem was in the power supply to the #RaspberryPi controller. I built it using the variable voltage DC-DC Buck Converters shown here. They are cheap and easy to use, but their efficiency (or at least the output voltage) drifts downwards over time. The one powering the RPi had dropped to 4.7V. When the lights were turned on - and I assume when additionally everything in the box got warmer - efficiency was dropping a little further and the RPi simply shut down. It's now running at around 5.2V and remained stable all last night - montage of images attached.
The small moth is only the second example I've seen here of the oecophorid Cirromitra tetratherma. It turned up sometime after 03:00 this morning.
The #AutomatedMothTrap outside my house in #Canberra had been offline for a couple of weeks, because it was crashing each night. It's fixed now, and the #moths are getting much more prominent as the weather warms up here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/albums/72177720322426621
The problem was in the power supply to the #RaspberryPi controller. I built it using the variable voltage DC-DC Buck Converters shown here. They are cheap and easy to use, but their efficiency (or at least the output voltage) drifts downwards over time. The one powering the RPi had dropped to 4.7V. When the lights were turned on - and I assume when additionally everything in the box got warmer - efficiency was dropping a little further and the RPi simply shut down. It's now running at around 5.2V and remained stable all last night - montage of images attached.
The small moth is only the second example I've seen here of the oecophorid Cirromitra tetratherma. It turned up sometime after 03:00 this morning.
This day flying moth on lantana has an almost unbelievable abstract art colouration. It is a Rattlebox, not sure of species. Quite large. 13-14mm.
#MothOfTheDay is a stunner.
You may recognise it from my profile pic, but one came to visit the #moth box last night. The gloriously beautiful #green and black mosaic of:
MERVEILLE DU JOUR
Griposia aprilina
Larvae feed on oak.
One of my absolute favourite moths of the year.
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #naturalworld #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #autumn #october #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
For my first “real” post I’d like to share this absolutely INCREDIBLE moth I found on campus a few days back. This is *Cosmosoma myrodora*, the Scarlet Bodied Wasp Moth. This striking moth is native to the southeastern US and is named because its appearance is believed to be mimicry of wasps— If I had to guess, likely a Polistidae species. This moth is a tiger moth (Arctiini) in the family Erebidae, much like the Salt Marsh Moth (*Estigmine acrea*) that is also native to Galveston, though I don’t think anyone is at high risk of confusing the two as they look very different. *C. myrodora* larva feed on *Mikania* genus plants called hempvines. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s an absolutely massive hempvine by the parking lot on campus. Maybe I’ll pop over there and see if I can find some larvae or pupae.
Sources:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/217647-Cosmosoma-myrodora
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN996
#insect #insects #moth #moths #nature #bugs #photo #texas #scicomm #entomology
For my first “real” post I’d like to share this absolutely INCREDIBLE moth I found on campus a few days back. This is *Cosmosoma myrodora*, the Scarlet Bodied Wasp Moth. This striking moth is native to the southeastern US and is named because its appearance is believed to be mimicry of wasps— If I had to guess, likely a Polistidae species. This moth is a tiger moth (Arctiini) in the family Erebidae, much like the Salt Marsh Moth (*Estigmine acrea*) that is also native to Galveston, though I don’t think anyone is at high risk of confusing the two as they look very different. *C. myrodora* larva feed on *Mikania* genus plants called hempvines. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s an absolutely massive hempvine by the parking lot on campus. Maybe I’ll pop over there and see if I can find some larvae or pupae.
Sources:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/217647-Cosmosoma-myrodora
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN996
#insect #insects #moth #moths #nature #bugs #photo #texas #scicomm #entomology
My garden was buzzing today!
(Info in alt text)
I did order the sticker design I posted the other day. Seemed popular : )
#bloomscrolling #butterfly #butterflies #moths #nature #color #joy
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
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
We spent a good 20 minutes observing this most beautiful Cecropia Moth Caterpillar for fear we might never see one again. #MothMonday#MothWeek#Moths #MothsMatter#Insect#TeamMoth#Nature#Canadahttps://frametoframe.ca/cecropia-moth-caterpillar-in-rouge-national-urban-park/
We spent a good 20 minutes observing this most beautiful Cecropia Moth Caterpillar for fear we might never see one again. #MothMonday#MothWeek#Moths #MothsMatter#Insect#TeamMoth#Nature#Canadahttps://frametoframe.ca/cecropia-moth-caterpillar-in-rouge-national-urban-park/