Other Common Names
Black-and-red Lichen Moth
Black-and-orange Lichen Moth
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Phalaena
Explanation of Names
Author Drury 1773 (Phalaena)
Size
Wingspan 25-32 mm; body length about 10 mm
Identification
Adult: body and wings bluish-black. Basal portion of wings yellow, orange, or red; distal portion of wings black. Amount of yellow/orange/red varies, according to published photos and illustrations.
Larva: caterpillar resembles lichen.
Range
southern Canada east of the Rockies, and northern and central United States, southwestward to Mexico (see
US distribution map); occurs along east coast as far south as South Carolina
Habitat
Often found in fields on flowers
Season
Adults fly during the day from July-September
Life Cycle
May take several years to develop, especially in the north. Hairy cocoons are attached to rocks or tree trunks near the former food source.
Remarks
Central North American specimens are subspecies Lycomorpha pholus miniata and show red on the wings; eastern specimens of the nominate race have the red replaced by yellow. (paraphrase of Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)
The red color pattern is thought to be mimicry of poisonous Lycid beetles, such as
Calopteron.
Another possibility is that the Elder Borer
is a model for this moth
See Also
See also the presumed model of the mimicry, the Lycid beetles of genus
Calopteron.
Print References
Covell, p. 61, plate 11 #16
(1)
Milne, pp. 790-791, fig. 165
(2)
Arnett and Jacques, #260
(4)Internet References
pinned adult image by Paul Opler, plus common name reference [Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth] and US distribution map (butterfliesandmoths.org)
pinned adult image plus common name reference [Black-and-red Lichen Moth], distribution, description, and other info (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)
pinned adult image (John Glaser, Maryland)
common name reference [Black-and-orange Lichen Moth] and distribution (Dalton State College, Georgia)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
