January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This challenge will be straightforward. Is this a butterfly or a moth? Why?
Here’s a habitat shot, showing the shot above was taken during the day. The subject above is the yellow speck near the bottom, center right.
Subject above is just barely visible here
OK, I think (!) it is a moth because the antennae are not clubbed at the tip. (I know there are a few exceptions to that rule.)
Reminds me of a pyralid, but who knows. Very pretty, at any rate.
Given the antennae, I’d also say a moth, but otherwise it’s shaped a lot like a heliconian longwing butterfly. Day-flying doesn’t rule out either, neither does puddling. Looking forward to the answer.
I’d also say moth because of the non-clubbed antennae. It looks to me like it might be a lichen moth (Lithosiinae in the family Artiidae – which itself is sometimes considered a subfamily of Noctuidae).
Probably chock full of cardiac glycosides!
Oh, duh, not to copy Ted, but I did mean Arctiid (Tiger Moths, etc.), not Pyralid. Of all the things I’ve lost… (I miss my mind the most.)
I’m guessing moth as well.
You got it. Hopefully you saw the reveal.
Sorry, I have had the same doubt: I’m rebuilding my costa rica’s photo album while I’ve found the same picture.In the end did you know what exactly is this moth? 🙂
sorry again, I think I’ve JUST found my answer here:
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Andes%20-%20Cyllopoda%20jatropharia.htm
sorry for disturbing 😛