Thursday, September 1, 2011

Tulip Tree Beauty

The Tulip Tree Beauty (Epimecis carbonaria and other species) is another moth that's so common around the Cat Sanctuary that I've seen a half-dozen or so even this year. They're the biggest Geometrid moth in the area, and the only moth that normally rests with its wings completely fanned out as if it were posing for a picture in a field guide. The colors and patterns vary somewhat; carbonaria is a mix of gray and black. The wingspread is about two and a half inches.

Here's a good clear picture: http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/2009/06/wildacres-birds-and-moths.html

These moths go through several generations each year. They're hard to find in the woods because they're well camouflaged, but they're attracted to light and very easy to find in a house! The caterpillars have an "inchworm" look but are up to two inches long.

They eat the leaves of several wild bushes and trees, including Tulip Poplars. Natural food plants are so abundant that this species is not considered a pest...they're seldom even much of a nuisance.

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