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Photo#440327
Adela  eldorada near Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP - Adela eldorada - male

Adela eldorada near Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP - Adela eldorada - Male
Off Hwy 180 a few miles west of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Tulare County, California, USA
June 6, 2010
In moist area within upper foothill/lower montane oak woodland & chaparral at ~4000'.

From studying Powell & Opler(1) (pg. 40), the three white lines on the wings narrow the ID of this fairy moth to Adela eldorada (see Plate 2.8 of Powell & Opler(1)) or Adela trigrapha (Plate 2.9 of Powell & Opler(1)). The western Sierran location, together with the long antenna, and the small orange tuft at the back of the head, are diagnostic of a male A. eldorada here. (If I interpreted Powell & Opler correctly, male A. trigrapha lack orange at back of head. Also, both male and female A. eldorada have broader cream-colored wing bands than A. trigrapha. I think I see that here, but I have difficulty clearly discerning that distinction in many photos.)

This male was courting this female.

Images of this individual: tag all
Adela  eldorada near Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP - Adela eldorada - male Adela  eldorada near Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP - Adela eldorada - male Adela  eldorada near Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP - Adela eldorada - male

Beautiful photos!
Beautiful photos!

 
Thanks, R.J.
Glad you enjoyed them. "Fairy Moths" are delightful :-)

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