Bird-dropping Moths

Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth Tufted Bird-dropping Moth Common Spragueia

What are they?

Small moths with wings that are tented close to the body at rest, giving them a narrow, rounded appearance. The group name comes from the black-and-white markings of many species which gives them the appearance of a bird dropping, thus offering an element of protection from potential predators. The Spragueias have bright orange tones on the wings and can sometimes be found feeding at flowers in daylight.

Identification

Relatively small moths which could be mistaken perhaps with the tortrix moths or other microlepidopterans. Most species are fairly easy to identify with reference to colors and wing markings.



09062    Tufted Bird-dropping Moth      Cerma cerintha

Length: 15-17mm.       Flight Time: May-July.       Larval Food: Mostly trees in the rose family such as apple, cherry and plum.
Tufted Bird-dropping Moth Tufted Bird-dropping Moth Tufted Bird-dropping Moth

09090    Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth      Ponometia candefacta Length: 12mm.       Flight Time: May-September.       Larval Food: Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.).
Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth

09127    Common Spragueia      Spragueia leo

Length: 6-9mm.       Flight Time: June-September.       Larval Food: Mostly ragweed, but also found feeding on bindweed.
Common Spragueia Common Spragueia Common Spragueia

09136    Common Bird-dropping Moth      Tarache aprica

Length: 8-15mm.       Flight Time: May-September.       Larval Food: Members of the mallow family (Malvaceae).
Common Bird-dropping Moth

09145    Curve-lined Bird-dropping Moth      Tarache terminimaculata

Length: 13-14mm.       Flight Time: April-September.       Larval Food: Members of the mallow family (Malvaceae).
Curve-lined Bird-dropping Moth