NMW: Orange Mint Moth

It's National Moth Week, and while Urban Dragon Hunters is primarily about dragonflies, we are keen on many other insect taxa as well. Why not try to feature a cool moth every day this week?

First up is this Orange Mint Moth (Pyrasuta orphisalis, Hodges #5058). This widespread crambid moth is very small, about the size of a pinky fingernail. It is on mountain mint, Pycnanthemum, and we didn't see them in the yard until we started planting a lot of this genus to attract pollinators. Given the common name, perhaps this isn't surprising, although The Butterflies and Moths of North America gives Monarda (bee balm) and savory (Satureja ?) as their host plant.

Photo by Julie Craves, all rights reserved.