Diurnal Tiger Moths: Ctenucha multifaria

Subject:  Black blue orange nectar eater
Geographic location of the bug:  Laguna Beach California
Date: 09/03/2017
Time: 05:39 PM EDT
Hello and thanks for wonderful website. Can you help me identify this, slightly bigger than an inch long, insect which I have never ever seen in Laguna, been here 50 years, and seeing many of these this week. Very fast moving, daytime flier. Best regards!
How you want your letter signed:  Tanya

Ctenucha multifaria

Dear Tanya,
Thanks for your kind words.  This is a diurnal Tiger Moth, Ctenucha multifaria, and we identified it thanks to this BugGuide descriptions:  “Distal tip and entire costal edge of forewing narrowly white-marginned. Patagia** entirely black.”  Diurnal Tiger Moths in the genus Ctenucha are very effective wasp mimics.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Polka Dot Wasp Moth Handmaiden Moth and Longicorn Beetle from Guinea Cortalaria Pod Borer Metamorphosis from Guam Tiger Moth from Zambia

Location: Laguna Beach, California