Hydrilla Leafcutter Moth, La Isla Escondida, Colombia

Very tiny, this one is already deeply cropped.

comments (5)

Christine Young

Lion

Beautiful! Maybe Parapoynx sp.? Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks so much, I'm reasonably convinced it may be this one:
  https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/205731-Parapoynx-diminutalis
  
  Agree? Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I'm fairly convinced as well.
    
    *Side not - isn't it amazing that moths know how to perfectly position their wings to show the perfectness of their patterns? They can line up the lines, spots, etc. perfectly. I read a study about this once (yes, really). I can't remember exactly what it said, but basically, scientists are in awe of this ability of moths to get the exact angle and degree perfect for alignment. They think it has something to do with predator defense, attracting a mate, etc. Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Yes, they seem extremely precise in achieving symmetry, interesting to think of why that is. Posted 6 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Really weird, but this is almost an exact match (visually) for Parapoynx fluctuosalis as well. Not in the right range for it, but wow!
Posted 6 years ago

The Hydrilla Leafcutter Moth

''Parapoynx diminutalis'' is a species of moth of the family Crambidae described by Pieter Cornelius Tobias Snellen in 1880. It is endemic to south-east Asia, including the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, but has since been found in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is also found in Africa, where it has been recorded from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, the Republic of the Congo,.. more

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant