Re: [cobirds] Bug question

Ira, as it turns out, it appears the identification of your ctenuchid moth suggested by Brian via iNaturalists (Harrisina americana) and Dave Cameron ("grapeleaf skeletonizer", its common name) is apparently right.  Pam Piombino of Boulder gently suggested to me Ctenucha virginica, which looks very similar to Harrisina americana, does not show the extensive blue pubescence on the wing the way the individual in your photograph does.  The caterpillars of the grapeleaf skeletonizer (and those of Ctenucha virginica) are boldly patterned and possess spines.  This suggests they are both advertising their distastefulness to predators like birds (aka "aposomatic coloration") and armored in case a would-be predator is color blind.   The caterpillars of the grapeleaf skeletonizer "strip mine" the leaves of grape and Virginia creeper.  Both are in the moth family Zygaenidae (the Smoky Moths), which only has a couple dozen species.

Thanks for your question and excellent photo, and sorry to have confused things a bit with my too-hasty initial reply.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

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From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Ira Sanders <zroadrunner14@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2021 7:51 PM
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Bug question

 

Birders

Attached is a photo of a flying bug. It's black with a little orange.  

 I realize it's not a bird question but we have delved into bugs before like black witches so I thought I would give this a shot.

 Does anyone know what it is?

Ira Sanders 

Golden 

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