Gaillardia World: Moths

 By watching Gaillardia World, I encountered a species of moth new to me:  The Darker-Spotted Straw Moth, aka Heliothis phloxiphaga. This handsome individual came to the Gaillardia by our barn toward the end of the growing season, October 5, 2022:

Here is the Darker-Spotted Straw Moth in action:

H. phloxiphaga, October 15, 2022.

The Greek derivations of the Latin binomial Heliothis phloxiphaga would translate as "One who basks in the sun and feeds on flames."  Fancifully, that designation is appropriate in this case, as this sometimes-nocturnal moth is now out in the sunshine and is drinking nectar from orange and yellow flowers that flare out like flames.

Also appearing toward the end of the season was a gorgeous white moth that is still unidentified.  However, experts at BugGuide.net guess that this moth is a member of the sub-family Crambinae, Crambine Snout Moths.   Certainly to us amateurs, the appearance of this moth makes "snout moth" a logical possibility!

A blue-eyed, long-nosed moth on a Gaillardia seedhead,

October 15, 2022.

In addition, arriving in mid-October was Rachiplusia ou, an Owlet Moth (family Noctuidae).    Here is a shaky glimpse of Rachiplusia ou in action:

Another familiar moth that frequented the Gaillardia patch by the barn was Hymenia perspectalis, the Spotted Beet Webworm Moth.   It is a Crambid-Snout Moth, Family Crambidae.  

The downward pointing "teeth" on the white hindwing band distinguishes 

this moth from a look-alike also known as a "Beet Webworm Moth," which 

is also a Crambid Snout Moth, but in a different genus, Spoladea recurvalis.  

Here is Hymenia perspectalis in action:

A Spotted Beet Webworm Moth (Hymenia perspectalis) takes 

nectar from Gaillardia pulchella, October 15, 2022.  

Briefly resting on Gaillardia stems was a beautiful Plume Moth (Family Pterophoridae):

The front and hind wings are folded together while the Plume Moth is at rest, forming a "T."

This moth came to Gaillardia on July 27, 2022.  

All of these moths showed up in the day time.   How I would love to see how many nocturnal moths came at night!