A Rainbow of Night-Flying Jewels

Have I mentioned that my favorite color is green? Did I mention that yesterday was my birthday? Well, someone took notice--and sent me a very beautiful creature for me to observe during Tuesday Night Moth Club for my birthday present. . . .

This Red-borderd Emerald Nemoria lixaria was a fine present indeed. Just look at how exquisitely patterned it is.

Here it is with it's wings folded like a butterfly--which I thought it was for the first few seconds I saw it. In the blacklight it appeared a grayish-purple color just like one of the hairstreaks. The flash of the camera soon revealed otherwise though . . . .

This one was breathtaking! Only I can't decide which species it is. I've narrowed the choices down to one of the Borer moths in the Papaipema family. I have three species I'm leaning toward--P. birdi (Umbellifer Borer Moth); P. rutila (Mayapple Borer Moth); and P. pterisii (Bracken Borer Moth). Please feel free to offer an opinion, if possible.

I really tried to make this Parthenice Tiger Moth (Grammia parthenice) into a different species (Phyllira Tiger Moth-Grammia phyllira) because of the vivid red coloring on the underwings! It was gorgeous--and had much deeper coloration than any of the ones I've been seeing over the last month. Based on the differences, though, in this description in BugGuide---I have to say it is still a Parthenice.

This is a pretty little moth--and I bet you have some experience with its larval stage if you've done any gardening here in the South! It is the Bristly Cutworm Moth (Lacinipolia renigera) and it has a bad reputation of shearing off newly emerged garden plants off at the base.

This was our first American Idia (Idia americalis). I love all the intricate patterns and spots!

Another Brown Angle Shades Moth (Phlogophora periculosa) turned up tonight. It made me wonder if it was the one I took to the Box Elder tree the other day?

This one is Zanclognatha obscuripennis (no common name).

And here is a Ruddy Quaker (Protorthodes oviduca). We had lots of other things come to the sheet too--like more Alianthus Webworm Moths, Large Maple Spanworms, Master's Dart Moth, Faint-spotted Palthis, and Black-bordered Lemon Moth. A nice end to a great 35th birthday!