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Photo#18434
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer - Harrisina americana - female

Grapeleaf Skeletonizer - Harrisina americana - Female
Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
May 25, 2005
I was sitting on a park bench when this moth flew in front of my face. It flew very slowly, forewings held out and stationary, clearly imitative of the elytra of a beetle. (I thought it was a Cantharid or similar beetle at first.) I grabbed a jar from my field bag and captured it. It was posed for photos.
Update. Image updated 6/6/22. This is a female.

Interesting
Could it be that this moth as well as the Yellow Collared moth (Cisseps fulvicolis) are both mimics of a Cantharid beetle? I have been wondering about the similar look of both moths.

 
seems likely--or wasp maybe?
Yes, I think that is likely. Perhaps the Lycid Calopteron, or one of the other lycids would be a good model. There are some Cantharids, too, with that pattern of dark elytra and orange on the pronotum. (I just saw some on 5/28/05, so they are about at nearly the same time.) I was really struck by the way Harrisina held its forewings during flight--looked exactly like the elytra of a beetle.

But maybe it's a better mimic of a wasp? Some wasp wings are held out like that at rest. Puzzling.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

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