Gnophaela vermiculata facts for kids
The Police-Car Moth, also known as the Green Lattice, is a cool insect that flies during the day! Its scientific name is Gnophaela vermiculata. This moth belongs to a family called Erebidae. It was first officially described by a scientist named Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864.
Quick facts for kids Gnophaela vermiculata |
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Gnophaela
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G. vermiculata
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| Gnophaela vermiculata (Grote, 1864)
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Contents
Meet the Police-Car Moth
Where Does This Moth Live?
This moth lives in the Rocky Mountains area of the United States. You can also find it in western parts of North America. Its home stretches from British Columbia in Canada all the way south to California. It also goes east to New Mexico and north into Manitoba, Canada.
What Does the Police-Car Moth Look Like?
The Police-Car Moth gets its common name from its unique look. It has a wingspan of about 54 millimeters (about 2.1 inches). This is the distance from one wingtip to the other when its wings are spread out.
Sometimes, people confuse this moth with another one called Gnophaela latipennis. This is because their wing patterns look very similar. But if you look closely at the edges of their front wings, you can tell them apart.
Life Cycle and Food
The Police-Car Moth has one generation each year. This means that from egg to adult, the whole life cycle happens once a year. Adult moths are usually seen flying in the late summer. They are active during the day, which is a bit unusual for moths, as many fly at night!
When the moth is a larva, or caterpillar, it starts with yellower patches. As it grows, its colors change to look more like the adult moth. These caterpillars like to eat plants from the Mertensia, Lithospermum, and Hackelia groups.
Once they become adult moths, they drink nectar from different kinds of flowers. Some of their favorite flowers include Cirsium (thistles) and Solidago plants.
