Day Flying Moth Wasp Mimics

I spotted a new day flying moth in the yard yesterday, a Yellow Collared Scape Moth ~ Cisseps fulvicollis nectaring on Heart Leaved Aster.

This wasp mimic, is common in late summer and likes to nectar on fall flowering plants such as Asters and Goldenrods.

Larvae of this moth feed on grasses, lichens and spike-rushes. Adults fly from May to October. (BugGuide.net)

This moth is very similar in appearance to the Virginia Ctenucha Moth ~ Ctenucha virginica, the Virginia Ctenucha Moth is slightly larger and has blue coloration on its thorax. These moths are active as adults earlier in the year, from May to July, nectaring on flowers during the day.

The larvae of this moth overwinter under leaf litter, adults emerge in May with two generations in one year. (BugGuide.net) One more reason to leave plenty of leaf litter in your landscape.

According to Moths & Caterpillars of the North Woods, adults gather pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) from various plants which is toxic to most predators. One plant in particular that is high in PA is Eupatorium.

Have you seen either of these moths in your landscape?