Moths

This series of pictures shows the proboscis of Anageshna primordialis moth uncoiling in search of nectar in the spur of Platanthera obtusata. Coos County, N.H. 7-3-22

Small Eyed Sphinx Moth [Paonias myops]. Coos County, N.H. 7-10-21

The intricate pattern of the beautiful Cherry Scallop Shell Moth [Rheumoptera prunivorata]. Coos County, N.H.7-5-21

Blinded Sphinx Moth [Paonias excaecata]. Coos County, N.H.7-6-21

Virginia Ctenuchid Moth [Ctenuchid virginica]. Coos County, N.H.7-6-21

A male Luna Moth [Actias luna]. Coos County, N.H.7-4 & 5-21. And the exact same moth came back the next night to roost in the same location.

I am pretty sure I never saw this beautiful moth before. Arched Hooktip [Deprana arcuata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-25-21

American Dagger Moth [Acronicta americana] caterpillar.Perry County,Pa.10-10-20

Hickory Tussock moth caterpillar [Lophocampa caryae].,on Witch Hazel.Dauphin County,Pa.10-15-20

Milkweed Tussock Moth [Euchaetes egle].Tioga County,Pa.9-15-20

Orange Spotted Pyrausta moth [Pyrausta orphisalis].Dauphin County,Pa.9-6-20

Yellow-Necked Caterpillar [Datana ministra].Dauphin County,Pa.8-20-20.After photographing these moth caterpillars [above] I accidentally touched the limb they were on with my camera,they immediately curled up in a response to danger [below].Is it camouflage or defense or both?Fascinating behavior that I have never seen before,almost like were trying to imitate limbs.

Orange Spotted Pyrausta moth [Pyrausta orphisalis].Dauphin County,Pa.8-17-20

A beautiful male Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis].Schuylkill County,Pa.7-27-20

Celery Looper Moth [Anagrapha falcifera].Dauphin County,Pa.7-28-20.

A beautiful male Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis].Schuylkill County,Pa.7-27-20

Blueish Spring Moth [Lomographa semiclarata].Dauphin County,Pa.4-28-20

Promethea Moth cocoon [callosamia promethea].Schuylkill county,Pa.11-10-19.Snug as a bug for winter.

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar [Hypercompe scribonia].Dauphin County,Pa.10-1-19

4th Luna Moth of the second brood,a dying female.I am sure her eggs are out there somewhere,ready to start the next generation.Dauphin County,Pa.7-12-19.

Hummingbird Moth "Common Clearwing" [Hemaris thysbe].Dauphin County,7-12-19

Female Luna Moth.Dauphin County,Pa.7-8-19 [Actias luna]

Male Luna Moth.Dauphin County,Pa.7-7-19 [Actias luna]

2nd and 3rd Luna moths of the second brood,a male and female.Dauphin County,Pa.7-7-19 & 7-8-19 [Actias luna]

2nd Luna Moth of the second brood,a beautiful male.Dauphin County,Pa.7-7-19 [Actias luna]

First luna moth of the second brood,a beautiful female.Dauphin County,Pa.7-3-19 [Actias luna].

Male Luna Moth [Actias luna].Tioga County,Pa.6-15-19

My first Tioga County Luna Moth.A beautiful male,our [Dauphin County] second brood isn't due till the first two weeks of July,so I am guessing this is the first brood so much further north.Tioga County,Pa.6-15-19 [Actias luna]

A real surprise, a Giant Leopard Moth [Hypercompe scribonia] caterpillar.Dauphin County,Pa.1-1-19.Temperature was 39 degrees

Salt Marsh Moth [Estigmene acrea].Dauphin County,Pa.8-20-18

Brown-Hooded Owlet Moth [Cucullia convexipennis].Dauphin County,Pa.8-4-18

Probably some of the last luna Moths I will find [8 this year].A dead female left, she has completed her two week moth life cycle,emerged from a cocoon,mated,laid her eggs.They will be moths next May. And a live male [Actias luna].Dauphin County,Pa.7-19-18

Two different male Luna moths [Actias luna].Dauphin County,Pa.7-13-18.So far I have found 6,which is five more than last year!

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna].Dauphin County,Pa.7-5-18

My first two Luna Moths of the year [Actias luna].Male and a female,Second brood.Dauphin County,Pa.7-5-18 [males have fuller & larger antenna]

The beautiful Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar [Lophocampa caryae] feeding on oak [Querus],Dauphin County,9-18-17

Banded Tussock Moth [Halysidota tessellaris] & Pale Tussock Moth [Caliteara pudibunda] caterpillars.Dauphin County,8-25-17

Wild Polyphemus Moth caterpillars [Antheraea polyphemus].Dauphin County,8-19-17.Feeding on Oak [Querus]

Newly hatched Luna Moth eggs [Actias luna].Feeding on Pignut Hickory [Carya glabra],captive rearing.Schuylkill County,8-15-17

Newly hatched Imperial Moth caterpillar,with in the last day.Captive rearing.[Eacles imperialis].Schuylkill County,8-15-17.Feeding on Eastern White Pine [Pinus strobus]

Polyphemus Moth caterpillar [Antheraea polyphemus].Dauphin County,8-13-17.Feeding on Oak leaf [Quercus]

Tiny wild Luna moth caterpillars [Actias luna] and the eggs [already opened] they would have come out of.Dauphin County,8-4-17.Eating Black Tupelo "Blackgum" [Nyssa sylvatica],found by good friend Jesse Babonis

Polyphemus Moth [Antheraea polyphemus].Dauphin County,7-28-17.

A late second brood female Luna moth.Dauphin County,7-28-17 [Actias luna]

Hummingbird Moth "Common Clearwing" [Hemaris thysbe].Dauphin County,7-9-17

Two different male Luna Moths [Actias luna].Dauphin County,7-9-17

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna].Dauphin County,7-9-17

Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis],in the rain.Dauphin county,7-12-13

Male Io Moth [Automeris io].Dauphin county,6-6-14

Pink-Striped Oakworm Moth [Anisota virginiensis].Dauphin county,6-23-12.Notice the Rosy Maple Moth [Dryocampa rubicunda] in picture four.

Rosy Maple Moth [Dryocampa rubicunda].Dauphin county,6-23-12

Blinded Sphinx [Paonias excaecata].Dauphin county,7-28-13

Oak Beauty [Phaeoura quernaria].Dauphin county,6-7-14

Ilia Underwing [Catocalia ilia].Dauphin county,7-11-11

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna],most likely first brood.Dauphin county,6-20-10

Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis] & Rosy Maple moth [Dryocampa rubicunda].Dauphin county,7-21-13

Dark Marbled carpet [Dysstroma citrata].Dauphin county,7-21-13

Clymene Moth [Haploa clymene].Dauphin county,7-19-14

All that's left of a Luna Moth [Actias luna],after completing its life cycle [mating and laying its eggs].Dauphin county,8-15-14

Male Luna Moth [Actias luna],caught in a spider web.Dauphin county,7-11-14

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna],in rain.Dauphin county,7-31-09

Polphemus Moth [Antheraea polyphemus].Schuylkill county,7-6-12

Large yellowish green male Luna Moth [Actias luna],second brood.Dauphin county,7-15-14

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna],second brood.In the same location as the male beside&below.Dauphin county,7-15-14

Large yellowish green male Luna Moth [Actias luna],second brood.Dauphin county,7-15-14

Male Luna Moth [Actias luna],first brood.Dauphin county,6-6-14

Azalea Sphinx [Darapsa choerilus].Dauphin county,6-7-14

Tulip-Tree Beauty [Epimecis hortaria].Dauphin county,5-13-14

Hummingbird Moth"Common Clearwing" [Hemaris thysbe].Dauphin county,7-22-16

Second brood Luna Moth [Actias luna],male.Notice the damage to his thorax,most likely occurred during emergence.He was missing at least one leg,probably more,very unstable roosting.But otherwise seemed to be doing very well.Dauphin county,7-11-16

After laying all their eggs and completing their life cycle,dying female Luna & Imperial moths [Actias luna&Eacles imperialis] [Luna moths only live about two weeks just long enough to mate and lay their eggs.They do not eat during this time].Dauphin county,7-14-13

Imperial Moths [Eacles imperialis].Dauphin county,7-14&28-13 & 8-3-13

First brood male [larger antennae] Luna Moth [Actias luna]. [Notice he is missing one of his right legs].Schuylkill county,6-15-15

First brood male [larger antennae] Luna Moth [Actias luna].Schuylkill county,6-15-15

First brood female Luna Moth [Actias luna], [first of the season] Dauphin county,6-12-15

Male Io Moth [Automeris io],Dauphin county,6-6-14

Imperial Moths [Eacles imperialis] mating,Dauphin county,7-13-14

Male [larger more feathery antennae] and female Luna Moths [Actias luna],[second brood].Dauphin county,6-30-13

Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis].Eacles imperialis lives and grows under ground as a subterranean pupa,it comes out of the ground as a moth [there is no cocoon].Then it climbs up on vegetation [or anything handy] and inflates its wings,by pumping blood from their heart [located in their abdomen],through their arteries to the wings.Then the blood in the wings coagulates.Dauphin county,7-21-13.Notice the Rosy Maple Moth [Dryocampa rubicunda],that came while this was happening.The last two pictures are of a Eacles imperialis [on the ground],that also came in,most likely through sent.

Male Luna moth [Actias luna], [second brood].Dauphin county,7-11-11

Promethea Moth [Callosamia promethea] cocoons,Dauphin county,4-24-15

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna], [second brood].Dauphin county,7-4-11

First brood male Luna Moth [Actias luna].Dauphin county,5-24-10

Female Luna moth [Actias luna], [second brood] in rain.Dauphin county,7-31-09

Worn female Imperial Moth [Eacles imperialis] & male Luna Moth [Actias luna], [second brood,late in the season] Luna moths only live about two weeks,just long enough to mate.Dauphin county,7-25-14

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna].Dauphin county,7-15-12

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna].Dauphin county,7-21-13.Notice she is missing one of her two tails.

Female Luna Moth [Actias luna],severely damaged.Most likely occurred during emergence.Dauphin county,7-15-14