Elegant Grass-Veneer (Microcrambus elegans)

At a 365nm UV light at a mixed forest edge. This darker coloration and the type of markings are a first for me in terms of this species.

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Interesting, looks like full black is also possible:

Natural variation? Sex-based? Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
1. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I am thinking it is natural variation. I'm seeing a lot of these darker morphs outside of the Southeast, but I have no idea the reason. This is one of the most common moths at lights/my sheet every year, and I've never seen one like this. They always look like the angry "Ghosty McGhostFace" :D Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Far-fetched theory...wonder if its diet-based. There's a fair amount of animals where their color is directly related to their food source. Or at least I know it's true for some birds. The classic example being the flamingo, but I like this example as well:
    
    https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/106/eurasian_blue_tit_cyanistes_caeruleus.html
    
    Pale yellow belly = has eaten mostly from feeders
    Vivid yellow belly = natural food, caterpillars
    
    To complete my random brain dump, I recently learned that mammals are so dull in color because evolution-wise, they have only two types of pigments (probably the wrong term). They can't produce most colors commonly found in insects, birds, the like. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      Not sure in this case, but I know of other moths and butterflies with morphs like this. These cases are typically caused by genetic mutations resulting from environmental pressures (natural selection). Basically, these moths require a way to blend in/ ward off predators. The article below goes into adaptations of both moths and tropical butterflies. Really in depth but cool stuff that I'm not great at putting into a paragraph ;P
      
      https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36424768 Posted 4 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Had no idea about that moth. Spectacular the speed in which it adapted to a changing environment. Thanks for sharing! Posted 4 years ago

The Elegant grass-veneer moth

"Microcrambus elegans", the elegant grass-veneer moth, is a moth of the Crambidae family. It is found from Ontario, Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Kansas and Illinois.

Info 13 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Flown Kimmerling