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Photo#845509
Sierra Pericopid, Gnophaela latipennis  - Gnophaela latipennis

Sierra Pericopid, Gnophaela latipennis - Gnophaela latipennis
Crane Flat, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
July 10, 2013
The Yellow-faced Bumblebee, Bombus vosnesenskii appears to be a model for two day flying moths that were flying with it - the Sierra Pericopid, Gnophaela latipennis and the Golden-shouldered Ctenucha, C. multifaria luteoscapus (id needs checking - pic is posted to bugguide). The wings and the body of the moths even had an iridescent bluish sheen like the bumblebee wings. Does anyone know if the moths are poisonous to eat which would give further mimicry protection to both species? There was a very large stand of California Coneflower, Rudbeckia californica and Horsemint, Agastache urticifolia which the moths and bumblebees were heavily visiting.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

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