For every day of National Moth Week, our partner, citizen science website Project Noah will be featuring a fun fact about the underwing moths, Catocala, and their look-alikes.
From Project Noah:
Fun Fact! Most moths in the Catocala genus have brightly colored hindwings detailed with black lines. Others, however, like this Epione Underwing (Catocala epione) have black hindwings. These black wings have the same effect as the brightly colored hindwings, creating a flash between the more drab forewings and the bold hindwings to scare or distract predators.
You can participate in the global citizen science project National Moth Week! National Moth Week 2016 is July 23-31. Visit the website for more information and be sure to register a public or private event! An event can be as simple as observing the moths that come to a porch. During NMW, be sure to submit your photos to one of our many partners! If you submit them to Project Noah, be sure to add them to the National Moth Week mission, Moths of the World!