A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Thaumatopsis pexellus
Roughly 18-20 mm in length, from "nose" to tips of folded wings. Wings narrow, marked with black and white streaks on beige background for maximum camouflage. Antennae of male bipectinate (comb-like). Note the extra-long palps, leg-like appendages originating beneath the eye in this image.
Degraded shortgrass prairie with yucca, sunflower, prickly-pear cacti, and scattered elm trees.
This and other crambid "snout moths" are exceedingly abundant here this fall. It has been a wet year and the caterpillars have prospered.
Spotted on Sep 26, 2014
Submitted on Sep 30, 2014
No Comments