Confused Haploa Moth
Haploa confusa
Despite its name 'confused', its striking geometric wing patterns are highly organized, serving as aposeratic warning coloration to tell birds it tastes terrible.
- Scientific name
- Haploa confusa
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Erebidae › Haploa
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and damp meadows
- Diet
- Adults feed on flower nectar; caterpillars consume host plants like Joe-Pye weed, forget-me-nots, and hound's tongue.
- Range
- Eastern North America, Southern Canada, United States
- Size
- Wingspan of 30 to 40 mm
- Lifespan
- Up to 1 year (adults live for only 2-3 weeks)
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, widespread pesticide use, and nocturnal light pollution.
- Safe to approach?
- This species is entirely harmless to humans. You can safely observe it from any distance. Avoid handling to prevent damaging the delicate scales on its wings. If a caterpillar is handled, wash your hands afterward as their hairs may cause mild irritation to sensitive skin.
Haploa confusa ( confused haploa ) is a moth of the family Erebidae that occurs in North America. The caterpillars feed on a Hound's tongue ( Cynoglossum officinale ).
Photo: Fyn Kynd, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/8a428418-d43b-4fc6-a8b0-2509d8565e57.md