Help identifying a moth...

[Pierre Zagatti]

Although it's really hazardous to identify a critter with vague descriptions,
the black and white pattern with spots OUTLINED suggest an arctiid
belonging to the genus Hypercompe (= Ecpantheria).

You may have a look at a tropical Hypercompe at:
http://www.jouy.inra.fr/papillon/arctiid/texteng/h_icasie.htm

but species occuring in the US show darker spots with higher contrast.

Pierre

tmeunier at ix.netcom.com wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> I just found this stunningly beautiful moth in my lawn, in Austin, Texas.
> I'm wondering what it is.   The body is about 1.5" long, white with black
> spots on the bottom, like a dalmation, except the spots are in 5 parallel
> rows along the length of its bodies.   The center row is the thickest, and
> the two rows on either side of that become slightly smaller.   One spot per
> "segment" of its body.    The top of the body is black, with orange stripes.
> The wings are pure paper white, with the OUTLINE of spots in black.   Little
> oblong circles drawn on paper, it looks like.   Including the wings, it's
> about 2" in length, total.   It is quite fat, I think it may be full of
> eggs.    The legs are white in front, solid black on the sides and back.
> It's the most stunning insect I've seen, even though I am by no means a
> hobbyist.
>
> Does anyone have any idea what this thing could be?
>
> Tom Meunier
> tmeunier at ix.netcom.com
>
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--
Pierre ZAGATTI
INRA Unite de Phytopharmacie et Mediateurs Chimiques
78026 Versailles Cedex
FRANCE
Tel: (33) 1 30 83 31 18
e-mail zagatti at versailles.inra.fr
http://www.jouy.inra.fr/papillon/