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Tussock Moth

Halysidota sp.

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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16.7354, -92.6387

Field Notes

Description:

Large moth, 3 cm long with orange body hair. Family Erebidae, Arctiinae.

Habitat:

Came to an ultraviolet light in the garden, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters. Pictures 3 through 6 were taken at the parking lights of a Shopping Mall, same city.

Species ID Suggestions

Tussock Moth

Halysidota sp.

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (10)
LaurenZarate
Thank you Luis, Albert and Rob! Thank you J, maybe I need to photograph a whole series of these and see what we have going on here.
Jacob Gorneau
Beautiful, Lauren! I don't think geographical speciation will be possible because in New York, there are two species in this genus, and if the larvae are not raised to adults, or if they are not determined by DNA or genitalia, they are indistinguishable. I think the situation only gets more complicated as one travels further into the tropics.
LaurenZarate
Thank you so much bayucca. Too bad they are so difficult to separate. What about geographical speciation for this one?
Sckel
I love the patterns
bayucca
Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Phaegopterina, Halysidota sp.. Some of them can only be separated by DNA/genital dissection, meaning tricky to get closer than genus from only a picture. http://bugguide.net/node/view/541
Paul Davis
I would say it is a Tiger Moth -Arctiidae,of some kind .There are similarities with the Painted Tiger Moth(Arachnis picts),but not the same .Great find and lovely shot .

Spotted for Missions

Butterflies and Moths of México
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Mexico Horn of Plenty
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Moths of the World
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
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Insects from Mexico!

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Photographed
PublishedApril 18, 2014

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