Yellow-collared Scape Moth

Here's another moth I met at the Duke Farms mothing program, the Yellow-collared Scape Moth.

At the risk of being ridiculed, when told the name of this moth I actually confused it with the Golden-backed Snipe Fly. (Lepidopterists and and dipterologists are laughing at me even if you're not.)

Apparently these guys are active during the day but (as in this case) will check out lights during the night. You may be able to spot them doing regular pollinator stuff, hanging out around flowers looking to score some nectar. As caterpillars they'll eat grasses and sedges (plants that sort of look like grasses but aren't).

They can be mistaken for the Virginia Ctenucha, a moth in a different genus but in the same subtribe so they are fairly close relatives. The main difference is that the Virginia Ctenucha has a yellow or orange head in addition to the collar.

August 20, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 157559099, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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