Our moths p. 1 (below) and Our moths p. 2
We don’t see as many moths, since most of them are nocturnal. But we enjoy the diurnal (day-flying) ones, and they’re interesting and attractive, too. It’s too bad I so often hear that something is “just a moth.”
I’ve tried to be as accurate as possible with these identifications, and I consulted BugGuide.net for some. I’m by no means an expert, and I welcome corrections!
CLEARWING MOTHS
Hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe)
Here’s a sphinx moth, sometimes called hummingbird moth because some people mistake it for a baby hummingbird. I always enjoy spotting this one. It’s easier to see this one than most moths since it’s diurnal. It’s getting nectar from the native beebalm (Monarda fistulosa). This must be one of its favorite flowers since all my photos of this moth over the years show it nectaring at this flower.
As the U.S. Forest Service notes, “When they are fully-grown they drop to the ground, spin a loose cocoon and pupate, partially protected by leaf litter. That leaf litter so hated by some gardeners provides a shelter to this beautiful pollinator. In the north, where the season is short there is only one generation per year; the pupa spends the whole winter well hidden and the adult does not emerge until the next spring.”
HOST PLANTS: Honeysuckle, hawthorn, viburnum, black cherry, plum
More hummingbird moth info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
Nessus sphinx moth (Amphion floridensis)
HOST PLANTS: Grapes
More nessus sphinx info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
Squash vine borer moth (Melittia cucurbitae)
This colorful moth is more striking in person than this image can show. Yes, it lays its eggs in squash family plants to the consternation of vegetable gardeners, but it also is found frequently nectaring on milkweed. (Hint for vegetable gardeners: Don’t plant your squash seeds until July when this moth has finished laying eggs.)
HOST PLANTS: Squashes, gourds, and pumpkins.
More squash vine borer moth info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Another of the beautiful clearwings. They’re so often attracted to the monardas that I like to plants lots of them (i.e. I don’t pull up the extras…)
HOST PLANTS: Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera) and bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), which we grow. Also, dogbane (Apocynum), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos), of course, but we don’t have any of these.
More snowberry clearwing info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
OTHER MOTHS
Eight-spotted forester (Alypia octomaculata)
I previously listed this as unidentified, but thanks to Doug in Alaska who emailed me, I now know it’s an eight-spotted forester, a diurnal moth.
Its host plants are grapes (Vitis spp.) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), both of which we grow. It’s a charming little moth, so I hope we see it again.
HOST PLANTS: Grapes and Virginia creeper
More eight-spotted forester info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
Darling underwing moth (Catocala cara)
This underwing moth (maybe a Darling underwing or Sweetheart underwing?) has beautiful coral-colored patches.
Unfortunately, it’s not a very good photo — he was moving too fast!
HOST PLANTS: Willows, cottonwoods, poplars
More darling underwing info at Butterflies and Moths of North America
Raspberry pyrausta (Pyrausta signatalis)
I’ve only seen this once, and it was on its host plant, monarda. We have lots of different monardas, so I know where to look to try to find another one.
HOST PLANTS: According to BugGuide, “Larvae feed on Horsemint (Monarda punctata), and in the northwest where punctata doesn’t occur, probably Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) and/or Scarlet Beebalm (M. didyma); may also feed on Wild Bergamot throughout the extensive range of that plant.”
More raspberry pyrausta info at BugGuide.net
Orange mint moth (Pyrausta orphisalis)
One of the many, many insects that I find on monardas. (Monardas are in the mint family.)
HOST PLANTS: Monarda species (and savory species, whatever that is…)
More orange mint moth info at Butterflies and Moths of North America