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Project Noah Nature School
Grammia Virgo
Hodges 8197. Striking moth with cool underwing surprise: head and fore wings marked with black outlined by rose-cream margins; hind wings bright rose with bold black spots; body rose with series of joined black ellipses; jet black antennae.
Was found on dark window screen a few feet away from porch light adjoining my yard that is bordered by woods and reclaimed strip mine (grass and native forbs).
Rose color was much more pronounced than shown in photos. I put this moth in the fridge overnight in order to get hind wing pictures the next morning. When I released it on plant outside, it produced a frothy mass of amber bubbles from thorax area (see yellow band behind head in last photo). I was alarmed at first, thinking that I might have injured it but, apparently for this moth, this turns out to be a normal reaction to pressure or contact to the abdomen (see David L. Wagner, 2005 Princeton Field Guide, page 470).
Spotted on Jul 12, 2014
Submitted on Jul 13, 2014
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