The aposematic coloring of the Orange-Patched Smoky Moth convinces would-be predators to believe that they taste disgusting.
The orange and black body of the adult Orange-Patched Smoky Moth looks very similar to a group of beetles that harbor a toxin, making them distasteful to anything that may want to eat them. The Orange-Patched Smoky Moth is believed to have a chemical defense, too, but this highly visible mimicry is effective without effort. This species of moth looks almost identical to the Yellow-and-Black Lichen Moth, save for the black all along the Smoky moth's inner wings. The antennae of the Orange-Patched Smoky Moth are black with fringe. The wings, though solidly colored, are actually translucent, a quality that is not easy to see when all wings are overlapping.
Adults are active in the daytime from late spring to mid-summer. They are thought to drink nectar. Larvae are believed to eat dead leaves and live among the leaf litter on the ground. Look for conspicuous adults in, or near, forests.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Zygaenidae
Genus:Pyromorpha
Species:dimidiata
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Pyromorpha dimidiata
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 18mm to 28mm (0.70in to 1.09in)
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, black
