Underwing Moth in the Wasatch Mountains – Samsung cell phone, f1.7, 1/120, ISO 100, 4mm, natural light
Finding this stunning Underwing Moth high in the Wasatch Mountains was a bit of a surprise two days ago because of how I found it and the memories it brought back.
I was searching for birds to photograph and stopped at a vault toilet to take a tinkle break and when I opened the door to the vault toilet I saw a fluttering movement that slightly startled me. Then a moth landed on the painted cement floor in front of my feet. I took care of business, then retrieved my cell phone from my vest pocket, opened the door to let in the sunlight, and took a few cell phone photos of the moth. The striking orange-red and black pattern of the dorsal aspect of the hindwings was gorgeous and the wood-like pattern of the forewings contrasted exceptionally well from them. The moth was beautiful.
I’ve submitted this photo to iNaturalist hoping to find out the identity of this Underwing Moth, so far it has only been narrowed down to the Genus Catocala. There are more than 250 species of these moths and some can look very much alike so I may not get the specific ID of this species. I thought it might be an Ilia Underwing (Catocala ilia) because the patterns on this moth’s wings look very similar but Ilia Underwings are an eastern moth not a western species.
As I looked at the photos I took of the moth on my phone visual and emotional memories from when my sons were young stirred within me.
When my boys were little we spent a lot of time in nature and finding interesting creatures was a “thing” with us no matter where we lived and we moved often. When my boys and I lived way, way out in rural Virginia I had to drive to the post office to get our mail because we didn’t have home delivery in that part of the county. The Post Office and a gas station/convenience store were combined and they left their outside lights on all night long which attracted many moths and other insects.
If we went to the Post Office early enough we were able to find some fantastic moth specimens on the outside wall of the building. We’d find Royal Moths, Luna Moths, Polyphemus Moths, Royal Walnut Moths, Imperial Moths, Common Buckeye Moths, and moths whose names I no longer remember. I never allowed my sons to harm the moths or to collect specimens to pin onto cardboard but I did teach them how to coax the moths onto their small fingers to carefully observe and look at closely.
Both sons still talk about those moths and the memories of those days even now that they are grown and have nature-loving families of their own.
I guess growing up with a nature obsessed, wildlife focused mom isn’t such bad thing.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my insect and spider photos.
Fascinating pic with an equally fascinating narrative. Your passion for “All creatures great and small” is an inspiration to us all. Thanks Mia.
A beautiful moth! But an even more beautiful memory!
A beautiful creature,,,I thought moths had fringed antennae…this one doesn’y…my ignorance is showing!,,
Patty, in some species of moths the males have feathery or fringed antennae and the females don’t. In some species the males have claspers and the females don’t. I don’t know which is the case in Catocala moths which is why I didn’t assign a gender to this moth.
I adore moths who are frequently every bit as beautiful as butterflies. And of course growing up with a nature obsessed mother wasn’t a bad thing. Au contraire it was an excellent thing.
EC, we do have some gorgeous moths in the world. Both my sons instill a love of nature in their kids so that is a good thing.
You did good, girl!
Thanks Pat!
Yes, another insect that was abundant at my parents in Centerville and my own home in Salt Lake. I never see them anymore. I hope the insecticide craze ends, before all life is wiped out.
My children survived and one thrived living with a granola mother. It’s just not in my son’s personality. Funny how both had the same exposure and drastically different outcomes.
Did they ever empty that vault toilet, last time I used it it was so full it was frighting.
April,
I’m seeing fewer insects too, all over.
I think they have emptied those two vault toilets, they didn’t smell as horrible as they had earlier in the week.
Love your moth memories.
Thanks Vicki.