Subject: Daylight moth?
Location: Helena, Montana
July 31, 2017 11:51 am
Lived in montana all my life. Never seen a moth or butterfly like this one… Doesn’t seem to classify as butterfly or moth clearly.
Reminds me of a cinnabar (red tansy) moth in movement.
Anyone know?
Signature: CandidKlutz
Dear Candidklutz,
This diurnal beauty is a Police Car Moth, Gnophaela vermiculata, and according to BugGuide: “Adults fly during the day in late summer, July-August (Alberta)” and “Larvae feed on bluebells [lungwort] (Mertensia spp.), puccoon (Lithospermum spp.) and stickseed (Hackelia spp.). Adults feed during the day on nectar of herbaceous flowers such as thistle (Cirsium spp.) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.)”