prominents & Schizura Moths
Red-washed Prominent Moth. These moths have a "fur collar" and blood-red shading on the top of their wings.
Linden Prominent Moth. Note the distinctive three slashes on the side of its wings.
Another Linden Prominent. I find these moths at my lights in April and May.
Another Morning-glory Prominent, found at Cox Arboretum. Some individuals have white streaks along the bottom of their wings, but this feature is variable.
Morning-glory Prominent moth. Note the light-colored spot with a dark streak through it. These moths are very common at my lights all summer long, from late May through August. This species is somewhat misnamed because the caterpillars do not eat morning-glories.
Chestnut Schizura. A very handsome and colorful member of its genus, but unfortunately these moths are not very common at my lights. This is the only one I have ever found. Photographed July 24, 2023.
Black-blotched Schizura, also called the Black-blotched Prominent moth. It was formerly in the genus Schizura but has been reassigned (now Oedemasia leptinoides).
Another Black-blotched Schizura moth, resting on a stick. I find these moths at my lights in May and June.
Morning-glory Prominent moth, resting on a stick. These moths disguise themselves by looking like a broken-off twig.
Red-washed Prominents are not very common at my lights. I have found a couple of individuals. My sightings have been in the months of May and June.
Linden Prominent. The moths in this family generally like to perch on small branches, because they camouflage themselves as broken-off twigs. If you have difficulty getting these moths to settle down for photographs, try giving them a stick to perch on. It usually does the trick!
White-streaked Prominent Moth, also not very common at my lights. I have only found two individuals: this one on June 5, 2023, and the one below on June 17, 2016.
White-streaked Prominent, trying to hide in the bricks (attracted with UV lights).