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Photo#1736276
Six or Eight Spotted Black & White Moth - Alypia octomaculata

Six or Eight Spotted Black & White Moth - Alypia octomaculata
Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Douglas County, Nebraska, USA
July 16, 2009
Looking through old photos and came across this stunning moth. I just am not sure if it is the 6 or 8 spotted moth, but am confident I am close with this choice. Thanks for helping me clarify and build my insect photo collection.

Images of this individual: tag all
Six or Eight Spotted Black & White Moth - Alypia octomaculata Six or Eight Spotted Black & White Moth - Alypia octomaculata Six or Eight Spotted Black & White Moth - Alypia octomaculata

Moved
Moved from Alypia.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Looks like...
Alypia octomaculata -- Eight-spotted Forester - Hodges#9314

I saw this species flying during the day many times as a kid, before I finally saw one land, and realized it was a moth rather than a butterfly. I was actually surprised to see its wings were black with white spots. I was subsequently able to identify it from a photograph in a bug book.

Hard to distinguish in appearance from Alypia langtoni -- Langton's Forester - Hodges#9318 but from what I have read it would be surprising to see a Langton's in Nebraska.

Visible hind wing spot looks to be at the margin, right next to the body. Pix of six-spotted female Langton's show hind wing spots well away from wing margin.

It's hard to describe the visual effect of those spotted wings in flight, but it's kind of fascinating.

 
Thanks for the quick response
And the story! I thought it looked like the 8 but not sure I was counting correctly. Now that I am retired, I am really working at identifying photos...have digital photos starting in 2005 but I didn't really try and identify many of them. I actually have my first submission to BugGuide in 2006 so have been a long time fan!

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