Moth

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Photo by LaurenZarate

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

This peculiar little moth looks more like a cockroach or a liver fluke than a moth. Brown with a dark spot on each forewing. The underwing is orange with a brown apical band. It hides it's antennae and legs under its wings when at rest, 8 mm long. Maybe Tortricidae? Or Xyloryctidae?

Habitat:

Came to an ultraviolet light in the garden, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

This gives a brief overview of the Family Xyloryctidae, which could also occur in Mexico, although not studied: http://mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (22)

LaurenZarate

Thank you Chun, it does look like some kind of seed!

ChunXingWong

Incredible! It looks like it is mimicking a seed.

LaurenZarate

Thank you Adarsha and PurpleScarf :)

LaurenZarate

Thank you Leuba, I've been checking out the Xyloryctids. It could be that family. There is another also for Australia with a similar looking moth. Apparently the wholes Superfamily Gelechioidea is a systematic mess. This one is going to be in limbo a long time I think.

Saumya Wanniarachchi

At first glance i thought it was some sort of a fluke ! :D

Adarsha B S

Cool spotting Lauren! After seeing fifth pic only, i believed its a moth!

Leuba Ridgway

There is a moth quite similar in shape to this one in Australia from the Family Xyloryctidae. There is even a spot on the hind wings. I can't get a match on anything from Mexico. Hope this is of some use..

LaurenZarate

Thank you Leuba, it is a strange cute little creature.

Leuba Ridgway

What a fantastic find, Lauren. I think he/she was trying to mimic a small dry leaf. Thanks for sharing this interesting specimen !

LaurenZarate

Thank you Mark and FFHRheingau. Teeny tiny shark egg!

FFHRheingau

Haha, at first sight I thought it was a photo of a shark-egg O_o Great spotting, never seen a moth like that before.

Mark Ridgway

Bizarre but fascinating.

LaurenZarate

Thank you Phillip :)