Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Moths of the Amazon and Andes         PAGE 1
A gallery of photographs taken by Adrian Hoskins
Photographs taken mainly in the Andes mountains of Peru.
Many more species will be added, so please revisit regularly.
 
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Click on thumbnails to see more photos, and detailed descriptions of the distribution, habitats, lifecycle and behaviour of each illustrated species......
 
Green-banded Urania
Urania leilus
URANIIDAE
 
Moths in the family Uraniidae are found in Africa, south-east Asia and Australia, as well as in the neotropics. Most, like this species, are day flying and can be mistaken by novices for Swallowtail or Swordtail butterflies. Urania leilus is a highly migratory species most often seen in the latter part of the dry season, when large numbers gather at sandbanks along the shore of slow flowing rivers. This picture also shows a Red Flasher butterfly Panacea prola, a Blue Doctor butterfly Rhetus periander, and 2 specimens of the Mimic White butterfly Enantia lina.
 
No common name
Xanthiris flaveolata
GEOMETRIDAE
 
This beautiful diurnal moth is often seen in small numbers on the banks of sandy rivers, often in the company of Diaethria butterflies. It has a wingspan of about 4 cms, and I've seen it in south western Brazil and in the Manu, Peru.
 
 
  
Unidentified moth 079
Opthalmophora sp.
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Wingspan circa 35mm. This species always rests with wings outspread and facing downwards. The resemblance to the face of a small bird is quite remarkable.
 
Unidentified moth 098
Cosmosoma sp.
ARCTIIDAE
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
This is one of several bee mimics, most of which have transparent wings with dark margins and apex. There are a few related species which have dusky brown or bluish wings. The thorax and abdomens of these species are usually red or orange, banded with black or metallic blue. Although this type of bee mimicry is found in several moth families, this particular insect is a member of the Arctiidae, probably belonging to the genus Cosmosoma.
  
Unidentified moth 099
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
This had a wingspan of about 100mm, and is probably a gigantic member of the Pyralidae ( most Pyralidae have a wingspan of only about 30mm ). It may possibly be a member of the genus Siga.
 
 
 
 
Unidentified moth 044
Opthalmophora sp.
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Wingspan circa 40mm.
 
 
 
 
No common name
Chlorhoda albolimbata
ARCTIIDAE
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Kindly identified by Martin Honey as "a species of Chlorhoda, probably albolimbata".
 
 
 
 
No common name
Macrosoma stabilinota
HEDYLIDAE
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Wingspan circa 35mm.
 
 
 
Unidentified moth 075
Cosmosoma ( ? ) sp.
ARCTIIDAE
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
This is one of several bee mimics, most of which have transparent wings with dark margins and apex. There are a few related species which have dusky brown or bluish wings. The thorax and abdomens of these species are usually red or orange, banded with black or metallic blue. Although this type of bee mimicry is found in several moth families, this particular insect is a member of the Arctiidae, probably belonging to the genus Cosmosoma. 
Unidentified moth 039
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Wingspan circa 30 mm. This small moth rests with it's abdomen slightly upcurved, and is almost certainly a member of the Pyralidae.
 
 
 
 
 
Unidentified moth 029
( please contact me if you can identify this species )
 
Photographed at San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru. Wingspan circa 55mm. Family unknown. The wings have a beautiful sheen like satin or silk.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Text & photographs Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007.