Ira, as it turns out, it appears the identification of your ctenuchid moth
suggested by Brian via iNaturalists (Harrisina americana) and Dave Cameron
("grapeleaf skeletonizer", its common name) is apparently right. Pam Piombino
of Boulder gently suggested to me Ctenucha virginica, which looks very similar
to Harrisina americana, does not show the extensive blue pubescence on the wing
the way the individual in your photograph does. The caterpillars of the
grapeleaf skeletonizer (and those of Ctenucha virginica) are boldly patterned
and possess spines. This suggests they are both advertising their
distastefulness to predators like birds (aka "aposomatic coloration") and
armored in case a would-be predator is color blind. The caterpillars of the
grapeleaf skeletonizer "strip mine" the leaves of grape and Virginia creeper.
Both are in the moth family Zygaenidae (the Smoky Moths), which only has a
couple dozen species.
Thanks for your question and excellent photo, and sorry to have confused things
a bit with my too-hasty initial reply.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Ira
Sanders <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2021 7:51 PM
To: cobirds <[email protected]>
Subject: [cobirds] Bug question
Birders
Attached is a photo of a flying bug. It's black with a little orange.
I realize it's not a bird question but we have delved into bugs before like
black witches so I thought I would give this a shot.
Does anyone know what it is?
Ira Sanders
Golden
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