Bright colors and a high gloss finish on the Bold Medicine Moth are remarkable, but this tiny flier is still mostly a mystery.
The Bold Medicine Moth's name origin is unknown. The unmistakable colors on the wings of this moth may account for part of its moniker. This orange and white moth is small, but its visual impact is large. A glassy reflection covers the moth, giving it a sheen best seen from oblique viewpoints. The orange-brown color on the forewings is interrupted by a white band that crosses the upper part of the wings and large white spots and dashes on the lower part of the forewings. The hindwings are often visible when at rest with wings flat, and each has a large white circle on the bottom edge that is speckled with dark spots in the center. The hindwings also have a black, white, and orange checkered bottom edge. All the wings have a long, wispy white fringe.
Information regarding the life history, diet, and larvae is still unknown. More research is needed to get a full look into this shiny gem.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Crambidae
Genus:Chrysendeton
Species:medicinalis
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Chrysendeton medicinalis
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 8mm to 15mm (0.31in to 0.59in)
Colors: orange, white, black, brown
Descriptors: silver, glassy spots, shimmery, white patches, orange bands, flying, small
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy
1
Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.
3
Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.
5
Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.
6
Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.
NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.
Colors: orange, white, black, brown
