Diarsia esurialis

Description:

Diarsia esurialis adult are a small to medium size moth,13 - 16 mm. The main color of this moth is yellow, orange, or pink-lavender,They have slightly broad wings with a variable pattern. The wing has a blackish brown or dark brown pattern in the cell, outside of the forewing spots. The forewing color is sometimes lighter yellow-brown. All have a darker blackish brown to red-brown patch at the costa or leading edge of the wing. The hindwing is light yellow-gray with an ill-defined gray discal spot.

Habitat:

West Coast of North America from the Alaska Peninsula to the vicinity of San Francisco, California. Wet coastal forest areas of North America.

Notes:

This beautiful Diarsia esurialis moth was attracted to an outdoor lamp I set up at midnight to lure moth's from the forest a few feet away. My total setup and wait time for capturing moth's by 40 watt lamp light was an hour before the moth's settled down enough to land near the lamp glow. I also tried a florescent bulb and lamp. This moth was not attracted by the florescent bulb,preferring the 40 watt bulb and possibly the associated heat of the bulb. Once contained I took my photographs indoors under diffused and bounce lighting. I used a white coffee filter as background and to diffuse light effects to capture the Moth's unique color and design. I am amazed at the beauty of this moth viewed from my camera lens.