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Butterfly Garden

Could I get an ID please?

PKponder TX Z7B

15 years ago

I photographed a neat looking white moth in Port Aransas, Texas last week. She seemed really lethargic and stayed in the bathroom on the wall for the entire week that we were on the beach. I'm not sure it's relevant, but I also saw a fuzzy black cat in the same bathroom, but it disappeared after an hour. I know, too much hanging out in the bathroom while on vacation âº

{{gwi:449413}}

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and lastly, I *think* this is a Gulf Fritillary, can anyone confirm?

{{gwi:449416}}

Thanks in advance!

Pam

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Comments (6)

MissSherry
15 years ago
Pam, there are SO many little white moths, that I can't be sure what yours was, but it might be the dreaded gypsy moth. If it was bigger than it looked in your picture, it might be a salt marsh moth.
The last picture is a queen, a milkweed butterfly closely related to monarchs - beautiful!
Sherry
PKponder TX Z7B
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Misssherry! She was about 1.5 inches I believe and upon looking at images, I determined her to be a Salt Marsh Moth. I wish I could have seen her with open wings, but she just hung out there on the wall, all folded up like she was freezing! It was warm and sunny for the most part.

There were lots of Queens all over the Demonstration Garden I visited. I was amazed at what is blooming in zone 9.

Thanks again,
Pam
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ladobe
15 years ago
Pam,

You're on the path to becoming a real lepidopterists when you spend you vaction hanging out in bathrooms watching moths girl. LOL There is no cure, so enjoy the ride.

As usual, Miss Sherry is on top of her species. But I'll kick in my observations to maybe help nail down the moth. While both species can be variable and do have very similar markings, I'd cast my vote that this is a Salt Marsh Moth rather than a Gypsie Moth female. The legs are the clue in this picture for me. Estigmene acrea do have black and white banded legs like the one in the picture while in Lymantria dispar the legs are not banded.

As for the larva you saw, it could be construed as either from your scant description. Both are "fuzzy" although the Salt Marsh is more so. Acrea larva are very variable and can run from whitish cream to redish orange to brownish black color, even within the same colony. The gypsies are not as varible, and could be described as blackish.

Either way thanks for sharing the pictures.

Larry
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
Female gypsy moths don't (can't) fly, so are not likely to be found anywhere but a few inches from where they've pupated on the host tree. And I'm not sure that the pests have been found in Texas (YET).
MissSherry
15 years ago
I've raised several salt marsh moths, and they look much prettier with their wings open -
{{gwi:443653}}
But I just LOVE the cats! Have you ever seen a caterpillar with a funnier 'face'?
{{gwi:449419}}
Sherry
PKponder TX Z7B
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow! That salt marsh moth picture is beautiful, Misssherry! I wish I'd looked closer at the black fuzzy moth. I didn't have my camera with me since I'd freaked out a couple of ladies by taking pictures in the restroom. Even when I pointed out the moth, they seemed a little edgy. That is just the cutest little cat face.

Pam

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?what to do with this little guy?

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