Skip to main content
Close

Moth

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

16.7354, -92.6387

Field Notes

Description:

Bright orange moth of about 2 cm in length. Family Geometridae. This moth deliberately sought out and stayed on the color that gave it the best camouflage!

Habitat:

Came to lights in the garden and then moved upwards to the wood ceiling which was the same color as the moth, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

@markridgway: Hi Mark, a while ago you made a comment about whether moths deliberately seek out a resting site that affords them the best camouflage. Today I was treated to a wonderful example. This moth came to the porch light, fluttered about on the wall a bit and then slowly but deliberately moved over to the wood above the light that was same color as the moth itself. It then wiggled about until not a single piece of it's wings was in contact with any of the white part of the wall and settled into it's resting position where it stayed the rest of the night. We so rarely get to see this because of the disturbance to a moth's normal behavior by all of our lights and attempts to attract them just to be able to see them.

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon