vickilynn

Royal Walnut Moth - Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793)

Identification: Females are larger than males. Upperside of forewing is

gray with red-orange veins and creamy yellow spots. Upperside of

hindwing is orange with creamy yellow at the costa and inner margin.

Life history: Adults emerge in late evening and mate the following

evening. Females begin laying eggs at dusk the next day, depositing

them in groups of 1-3 on both sides of host plant leaves. Eggs hatch

within 6-10 days, and the caterpillars feed alone. Young caterpillars rest

on the tops of leaves and resemble bird droppings, while older

caterpillars appear menacing because they are very large and brightly

colored with red "horns" near the head. Caterpillars pupate in a burrow

in the soil.

Flight: One brood from May through mid-September.

Wing span: 3 15/16 - 6 1/4 inches (10 - 16 cm).

Moths protect themselves from predators in some interesting ways. For

example, can you figure out how the Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea

polyphemus might cause a hungry bird to go away? Notice how this

moth's hindwings are adorned with what appears to be eyes glaring at

us. Well, if you were a bird about to pounce on the poor Polyphemus,

and the Polyphemus opened its wings and those big yellow eyes were

suddenly staring at you, wouldn't you think twice about gobbling it up!

Moths protect themselves from predators in some interesting ways. For

example, can you figure out how the Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea

polyphemus might cause a hungry bird to go away? Notice how this

moth's hindwings are adorned with what appears to be eyes glaring at

us. Well, if you were a bird about to pounce on the poor Polyphemus,

and the Polyphemus opened its wings and those big yellow eyes were

suddenly staring at you, wouldn't you think twice about gobbling it up!

Do you think the frame takes away from the photo?

Thanks

For more detail view "Larger"

Common Name: Red velvet ant or "cow killer" Scientific Name:

Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus) Order: Hymenoptera Description:

These insects are wasps, not ants. Females are wingless and covered

with dense hair, superficially resembling ants. The red velvet-ant is the

largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in length. They are

black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on the thorax and

abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not sting.

Comments welcome. thanks

Common Name: Red velvet ant or "cow killer"

Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)

Order: Hymenoptera

Description: These insects are wasps, not ants. Females are wingless

and covered with dense hair, superficially resembling ants. The red

velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in

length. They are black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on

the thorax and abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not

sting.

Comments welcome. thanks