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https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl General >> Other Topics >> Weird bug https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1286248762 Message started by Rat Man on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 11:19pm

Title: Weird bug
Post by Rat Man on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 11:19pm

I was fishing with Mark back in the Pines a few weeks ago and we came across this moth with two sets of false eyes in the back. The fake eyes are to confuse predators. This isn't the first bug I've seen with false eyes, but it's the first time I had a camera handy, be it a cell phone camera. With that in mind I'm pleased with the picture quality.

MothCropped.jpg (123 KB | )

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by aztec on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 11:34pm

cant really tell by the pic..but was it resting with its wings up together? or were they flat

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Steven on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 9:28am

Kind of like Buckeye butterfly ... but the colors are not right for a Buckeye .. perhaps the color shift is from the camera
On a Buckeye the stripes are more orange ... I see the stripes in this picture as a red. Could be because we are looking at the bottom of a wing and not the top bright side.

Can't tell from the photo but if the antennae are very fuzzy it could be an Emperor moth. Nope not Emperor .... The Emperor
has only one eye spot on the rear lower wing

I'm definitely leaning toward Buckeye butterfly.

#240 of 250

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Rat Man on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 11:36am

Both wings were up. It was difficult to get a different angle because I didn't want him flying away. Hopefully this slightly different view will help. Again, this is just a cell phone camera, so the quality is what it is. I've seen bugs with ridiculously distinct false eyes and faces that looked like they were drawn on by a cartoonist.

MothCropped2.jpg (96 KB | )

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Steven on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 11:40am

Still thinking Buckeye buttery fly because there are two eye spots on the lower rear most wing

#6

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by aztec on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 3:11pm

its a butterfly if the wings were up ;)

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Timothy Potter on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 5:33pm

My guess is that it's an American Lady butterfly.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368

-Timothy Potter

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by slingbadger on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 5:50pm

Were the antennae fuzzy, or smooth? If they were fuzzy, then it was a moth, probably a Hawkmoth. If they are smooth, then a Buckeye.

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Masiakasaurus on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 6:44pm

I gotta goe with American Lay Butterfly.

Title: Re: Weird bug
Post by Rat Man on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 9:25pm

Timothy Potter wrote on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 5:33pm:

My guess is that it's an American Lady butterfly.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368

-Timothy Potter

Yes, I have to agree with Timothy also. I didn't get a top view with the wings opened like in the picture, but the side views are a spitting image.