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Spotlight

Giant Silk
Moth Survey

The Infant Moth (Archiearis infans)

This moth is often identified as a butterfly by observers in the early spring. It can be commonly found on dirt roads and trails throughout Vermont as it flashes its brightly colored hindwings when flushed. It suddenly seems to disappear when it lands because it covers the hindwings with its camoflauged forewings.

Note its slow and dainty flight as well as the clubless antennae. Both good clues that this is a moth and not a butterfly.

Its host plant are birches and the adults can be found from March to early May on warm afternoons. It ranges from Nova Scotia to New Jersey and Pennsylvania west through Canada south to Minnesota.

upperside



underside (on pink elephant skin...or perhaps just my hand)