(I can identify this one on my own, Carolyn and MaryBeth! But this one is almost too easy!)
ID’ed at BAMONA as “Apantesis phalerata” or “Harnessed Moth”;
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/724358
Species page,
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Apantesis-phalerata
At BugGuide, it's called “Harnessed Tiger Moth” (though the scientific name is the same, of course);
http://bugguide.net/node/view/33325
My heart isn't in photography at the moment, but this opportunity presented itself at 8 a.m. when I was taking trash and recyclables to the curb for pickup. This moth was on the concrete where the garage door apparently doesn't quite reach the concrete. (That's the reason for the color line in the image.) This was apparently the safe place the moth found to spend the night. After I photographed it, it flew away.
Eight days in a row: a winged creature. What does this mean?
A year ago (“Mineral, animal or vegetable?”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-06-28
I was just wondering about this plant and wondering about shooting a different aspect of it!
Identifying this moth from its cousins?
There are four species in the genus:
» Species carlotta - Carlotta's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8171.1
» Species nais - Nais Tiger Moth - Hodges#8171
» Species phalerata - Harnessed Tiger Moth - Hodges#8169
» Species vittata - Banded Tiger Moth - Hodges#8170
From BugGuide,
http://bugguide.net/node/view/33325#body »
“Remarks
“There are no 100% consistent diagnostic characteristics in wing maculation or spots/no spots on the patagia (the ‘collar’), to reliably distinguish nais/carlotta/phalerata/vittata. The only full-proof [sic] method is dissection and examination of genitalia (the exception is in male phalerata, in which the valve is easily distinguished by its longer, up-curved apex. So one could brush the scales away from the last sternite and see it without dissection. The nais/carlotta/vittata group have rather blunt and rounded apices of the valve.)
However, within this group, using the sum of typical (although not necessarily diagnostic) characteristics, can allow for a reasonably probable species ID.
-- J.D. Roberts”
Got it? ;-)
![“Harnessed [Tiger] Moth” by rhoing](https://media.365project.org/1/3094847_efghnopq35_l.jpg "“Harnessed [Tiger] Moth” by rhoing")
![‘Gray Half-Spot’ [Filler]](https://media.365project.org/1/9510135_chjkuwyz79_sq.jpg "‘Gray Half-Spot’ [Filler]")
@jtookey150 Thanks, Jean! It's rather incongruous how sharply-defined the wing markings are, but how fuzzy and hairy it is up front!