For my first “real” post I’d like to share this absolutely INCREDIBLE moth I found on campus a few days back. This is *Cosmosoma myrodora*, the Scarlet Bodied Wasp Moth. This striking moth is native to the southeastern US and is named because its appearance is believed to be mimicry of wasps— If I had to guess, likely a Polistidae species. This moth is a tiger moth (Arctiini) in the family Erebidae, much like the Salt Marsh Moth (*Estigmine acrea*) that is also native to Galveston, though I don’t think anyone is at high risk of confusing the two as they look very different. *C. myrodora* larva feed on *Mikania* genus plants called hempvines. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s an absolutely massive hempvine by the parking lot on campus. Maybe I’ll pop over there and see if I can find some larvae or pupae.

Sources:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/217647-Cosmosoma-myrodora

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/3/f/5/c/3f5cfb9d3e2ea5c70320e1f7b390218b/3740%20scarlet%20bodied%20wasp%20mothpdf.pdf

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN996

#insect #insects #moth #moths #nature #bugs #photo #texas #scicomm #entomology