A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cisseps fulvicollis
Medium sized dark moth. Yellowish-orange "collar" and edging on wings. Dark legs and antennae. Active during the day.
Suburban garden.
I was so happy to find one of these!
Spotted on Oct 23, 2012
Submitted on Nov 3, 2012
2 Comments
Yes Argy, that is the general consensus for this species and the Virginia Ctenucha (another moth that looks very similar). They believe that they are mimics of wasps or perhaps distasteful beetles.
Also interesting, the flower (Eupatorium Sp.) on which this moth was feeding is rich in pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which are toxic to most predators. (as per Bugguide).
I had no idea, but I did wonder why so many fewer insects were feeding on these flowers than some of the others.
Maybe part of a mimicry ring? It looks so like some wasp or beetle. Nice find.