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Moth

Hemeroblemma mexicana

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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16.7295, -92.6397

Field Notes

Description:

Really neat moth that has an iridescent purple sheen when it changes position. About 3 cm long. Family Erebidae (Noctuidae).

Habitat:

Came to the parking lights of a shopping mall, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters. Pictures 2-4 were taken on the opposite of the city and came to an ultraviolet light in a garden on 1 September 2013. The 5th picture was taken at the lights of the shopping center on 19 October 2014.

Reference Links:

Hemeroblemma mexicana, Hemeroblemma mexicana -- Discover Life

Species ID Suggestions

Erebid Moth

Hemeroblemma mexicana

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (12)
bayucca
Yes, Tom's is Hemeroblemma leontia.
LaurenZarate
Thank you bayucca. OK, looks good. Would you still leave Tom's specimen as H. leontia? They are easily confused species and maybe just 1 variable species?
bayucca
I think #5 is indeed different one to the others, but as well Hemeroblemma mexicana. http://leps.thenalls.net/moth.php?lep=9307551 Take #5 of this link: http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=157696 Another one with a selfie and a range in extremis: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19720075 The white stripe on the forewing is quite characteristic for Mexicana and not shown in Leontia: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_CAM23441&res=640 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdlAZXuYj1A/T8fbOoWGBjI/AAAAAAAAAv8/wlyeZplZBqA/s1600/u-costarica_mothut.jpg http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=101542 Do you agree?
LaurenZarate
Here is the link again to Tom's moth from Honduras which you identified as Hemeroblemma leontia a year ago. It sure looks closer to that one than H. mexicana. Would these two species overlap? Hope you feel better soon! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19286209/fullscreen
bayucca
I certainly will check when I find the time. Actually I had a terrible week with work, flu, 2 midnight sessions instead of sleeping and recovering, full day exams ... Btw, the link is broken, can you add it again. Thanks.
LaurenZarate
Thank you venusflytrap, I think so too……I am hoping bayucca will have a look at it too.
LaurenZarate
Bayucca, would you have a look at the 5th moth in this series? Could this one be Hemeroblemma leontia instead of H. mexicana? This 5th one looks more like what Tom found in Honduras (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/...).
LaurenZarate
Bayucca, I added additional pictures of this moth for you.
LaurenZarate
Thank you bayucca, it is such a beautiful moth. Chiapas has cacao but not at this elevation, so it must have larval feeding on something else.
bayucca
Erebidae, Erebinae, Thermesiini, Hemeroblemma mexicana.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Mexico Horn of Plenty
Mission
Moths of the World

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Photographed
PublishedMay 30, 2013

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