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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths (Pyraloidea) » Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae) » Chrysauginae » Galasa » Boxwood Leaftier - Hodges#5552 (Galasa nigrinodis)
Photo#1262879
Unique moth - Galasa nigrinodis
Copyright © 2016 John van der Linden

Unique moth - Galasa nigrinodis
Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
July 14, 2016
This moth caught my eye because it is a striking mimic of a leaf-footed bug (as mentioned here ) or related true bug. Have just been learning about the mystery surrounding its hostplant use, which is very interesting. I think I have seen boxwood planted around Decorah, so I assume that's what it's feeding on here. (We need pictures of larvae and hostplant documentation for this species on BG!!) Curiously, an internet search turned up no reference to the moth's compelling mimicry. Anyone care to speculate on why a moth would evolve to mimic a leaf-footed bug so closely?
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Contributed by John van der Linden on 23 July, 2016 - 12:50pm

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