Anniversary Moth

Male Julodimorpha have been seen attempting copulation with beer bottles; the color of the bottle and the pitting at its base apparently mimic the color and texture of the elytra [wing case].

I conjecture that this is the fundamental reason that Australian PT denizen John Wilkins is so skeptical of the Biological Species Concept.

The yellow and blue-green stripes are quite extraordinary and very much against the otherwise beige leafy/parchment camouflage effect. I suppose there must be an optimum distance and setting for which those stripes become cunningly helpful. There are no stripy ones like that in my UK books though.

[creatobabble on]

Oh come on Reed, we all know, having read many creationist tracts, that moths don't rest on tree trunks or any conveniently coloured object. Obviously your photo is a fake and therefore: GODDIDIT.

[creatobabble off]

Reed,

I dunno what it is, but may I suggest you visit whatsthatbug.com.

I don't know. But I do know that since that weather-stripping is intelligently designed any point you're trying to make about mutation/selection is moot.

And it's still a moth!

Reed-

I believe that your moth is a Florida Tussock Moth (Halysida cinctipes). Covell's Moths of Eastern North America describes this as being very similar to the banded tussock moth (H. tessellaris)but with a bluish green middorsal stripe on the thorax (shows ncely in your photo). You are north of the range listed in Covell however- IIRC you are in Georgia and cinctipes is from central and south Florida. I hate it when they don't read the guide books.

Yes, DougT, Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris See
at http://bugguide.net/node/view/9936

That's Laurie. I dated her a few times in college. Nice girl, but really shy. Preferred to blend into the background. But, like I said, nice girl.

It's good to see she's added a little color to her wardrobe.

Yep, looks like the banded tussock moth she be. Here's a photo of the caterpillar stage of this very attractive little beastie.

PvM:

Interesting. BugGuide shows tessellaris as having the blue markings, and the photo is from North Carolina. Covell lists the blue markings as being characteristic of the Florida species and distinct from tessellaris. I'm guessing that the problem arises out of the use of museum specimens- that kind of color is notoriously fugitive in preserved material. Both the BugGuide photo and Reed's show the feature nicely.

[sarcasofont on]

I get really tired of everyone using this godless method of comparative analysis to determine the species of an animal. I opt that because we cannot truely ( T ) know what anything is, that we should not bother guessing and acting as fools in the face of the Almighty. God knows what this moth is, shouldn't that be enough?

[sarcasofont off]

Judging from private reports of the various Howlerfests during his march (?) through North America, he may well be a significant source of the bottles those poor deluded bugs are trying to mate with. RBH

And it's still a moth!