Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#217664
Clearwing moth - Pennisetia marginata

Clearwing moth - Pennisetia marginata
Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
August 24, 2008
Size: approx. 1+ inch
This moth was traveling from one Himalayan blackberry leaf to the next. It would land on the edge of the leaf, then curl its tail under the edge of the leaf. I believe it was depositing eggs - which you can hopefully see in the third image. The egg appears red. About five minutes after this one wandered off, a second smaller one appeared (approx 3/4 inch), mimicking what the first one did. Before today, I'd never seen the moth.

I found images of two moths in your collection that look vaguely similar to this one, but none that came close to a match - specifically: the yellow fuzzy tail, the brown (double?) tuft of fur/hair atop the abdomen just behind the wings and the yellow pattern on the back of the thorax.

Any help in identifying this handsome little creature would be greatly appreciated.

Images of this individual: tag all
Clearwing moth - Pennisetia marginata Clearwing moth - Pennisetia marginata Clearwing moth - Pennisetia marginata

Beautiful shot -
though I'm not sure, this looks similar to Pennisetia marginata , the Raspberry Crown Borer; plant would also work out.

 
Thank you.
Thank you.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.