Yellow-collared Scape Moth - Cisseps fulvicollis
Family: Arctiidae (Tiger Moths) / Subfamily: Ctenuchidae (ctenuchas, scape moths, wasp moths)
Live adult moths photographed at Winfield, Illinois, USA, at various times 2002-2008.
Yellow-collared Scape Moth
Yellow-collared Scape Moth

This is one beautiful moth - especially if you can get up close to see the iridescent multicolored scales on the wings and the iridescent blue-black body. The lovely deep orange "collar" is one of the most striking examples of this color in nature. A very active diurnal moth, I've found the scape moth nectaring on just about every flower we have here.

Scape moths mating, male on left
Scape moths mating, male on left

Virginia Ctenucha Moth
Compare to: Virginia Ctenucha Moth - Ctenucha virginica

Moths, including scape moths, pollinate many species of plants. Moth-pollinated flowers tend to have a strong, sweet scent and are white or pale in color. Gardens planted with these flowers may attract several kinds of sphinx moths, including the hummingbird and bumblebee mimics. While eating the nectar of a flower, moths receive a dusting of pollen by brushing against anthers, which produce pollen. Their fuzzy bodies are excellent pollen carriers. As a moth sips nectar from another flower of the same species, it transfers pollen from the previous plant. This cross-pollination is necessary for many species of plants to produce seeds.

 

              
 
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