Cheryl Lang took this photo of a Geranium Plum Moth resting on Pink-flowered Wood Sorel, also known as Oxalis.
The Geranium Plume Moth (Amblyptilia pica) is a strange-looking moth that is shaped like a T — one with a very short upright part and long cross arms.
Appearing more like some kind of futuristic aircraft than typical a moth, plume moths are still able to fly, since their narrow, rolled up-looking wings spread somewhat in flight. Plume moths are fairly quick and agile even without conventionally-shaped wings.
This species gets the name Geranium Plume Moth because the larvae will feed on plants in the Geranium genus, though they feed on snapdragons and other plants as well.
Like other moths, plume moths are subject to predation by spiders, dragonflies, birds and other predators, but their unusual shape and cryptic coloration enables them to often blend in well with their surroundings, and they are often overlooked since they resemble some random bits of dried out vegetation or sticks.
With their thin bodies, rolled wings and unusual silhouette when perched, plume moths don’t resemble the classic moth shape of plump bodies, flat wings and feathery antennae, but are nonetheless members of the Lepidoptera order to which all moths and butterflies belong.
Plume moths are attracted to porch lights at night, and can sometimes be seen during the day inconspicuously resting on the side of buildings that they were attracted to in the night because of outside lights.
NATURAL SIGHTINGS is a regular feature of the Tehachapi News edited by Jon Hammond which showcases photos of the natural beauty that enhances the quality of life in Tehachapi. If you have a good quality image of plants, animals, insects, trees, birds, weather phenomena, etc., taken in the Tehachapi area, you may submit it to the Tehachapi News for possible publication. Submissions can be dropped by the News office in the form of a print or CD, or sent by email to: editorial@tehachapinews.com.