Variegated Midget
Elaphria versicolor
Their intricate wing pattern mimics lichen and moss so perfectly that they become completely invisible to predators when resting on tree trunks.
- Scientific name
- Elaphria versicolor
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Noctuidae › Elaphria
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woodlands, as well as forested wetlands.
- Diet
- Larvae feed on various trees and shrubs, including pines, firs, and birches. Adults feed on flower nectar and tree sap.
- Range
- North America, Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada
- Size
- Wingspan of 18 to 24 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 year (with adults living only 2 to 3 weeks)
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, widespread pesticide application, and artificial light pollution which disrupts nocturnal mating and feeding.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. If you encounter this moth, observe it quietly. Avoid touching its delicate wings, as rubbing off their microscopic scales can impair its ability to fly. If it enters your home, attract it to a container using a soft light and gently release it outside.
The variegated midget ( Elaphria versicolor ) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in north-eastern North America, including Ontario and Ohio.
Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/48b4286f-bebb-4a2f-b0b6-9f167b09cf42.md