Subject: black moth with orange and white markings
Location: Missouri, United States
April 4, 2015 3:59 pm
while moving tent caterpillars off of our plum tree, this little pollinator stopped by! I’m glad I got some good pictures. I’m about 85% sure this is a moth but I’d just like to hear your opinion as well and if you can give me the species that’d be much appreciated!
it had fuzzy legs and body, like a moth. with a proboscis like abutterfly.
Signature: Stolz
Dear Stolz,
We quickly identified your moth on BugGuide as a Grapevine Epimenis, Psychomorpha epimenis, and according to BugGuide: “Adult records are mostly from February to July. Food Larvae feed on the leaves of grape, Vitis (Vitaceae) Common nectar genera: Forestiera, Prunus, Crataegus, Cercis spp.” Since Plum is in the genus Prunus and it is April, this sighting is very typical.
