Monday, July 13, 2015

Help identify this moth, dear blogistas

I found this moth, well, half a moth, on the sidewalk during my evening walk, and brought it home to identify.  I'm assuming it's a moth because it has a furry area near the head, or where the head was before it fell afoul of a bird or something.

I wonder, is this a clouded underwing?  if you know, please chime in.  I made two pix, one of what was probably the upper wing, 




one of the underside, 



this being much more colorful, and likely to be the underwing, which keeps the colors concealed unless in danger.  As far as I can tell, without being able to stretch out the wings without damage, it's probably about 2. or 2.5 inches across when in action.

Anyway, here's the result of my nature walk, and I would appreciate expert insight on this.  I have a couple of other moths and butterflies found similarly and identified, resting in the appropriate pages of my moth book, and this one will too, once I establish what is the right page!   We have so many species of deciduous and evergreen trees around here that you might find practically anything.

4 comments:

  1. nearest I can find (and subsequently lost) online in google is that this is a cloudywing, but not the one you're thinking of. I found the picture, and its apparently the same family but bluer than the cloudywing. If that makes sense. what lovely markings. Id not mind a sweather knitted like that...

    you can import your image right into Google by hovering over it and selecting "show image in google" from the drop down list...maybe you'll have better luck with it than I did.

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  2. I don't know what others call them, but I think Amazing Yet Understated Tapestry Moth fits the bill.

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  3. According to my Butterfly House compatriot, it is an Underwing! Fairly common, he says.

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  4. Thank-you all! Great group of researchers.

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