Crusader Moth

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Crusader Moth

July 23, 2015 by Mike Powell

On Monday I came across this really cool-looking moth while walking through the woods at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia. The moth’s distinctive pattern reminds me of the shields used in the Middle Ages by the knights during the Crusades, which is why I want to call it the Crusader moth.

Officially, this is a Clymene Moth (Haploa clymene), a moth of the Tiger Moth family that is found in the eastern part of North America.

As I was doing research, I learned that 18-26 July is National Moth Week.

Go wild!

Posted in Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Clymene moth, Crusader moth, Crusades, Haploa clymene, Huntley Meadows Park, National Moth Week, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto | 11 Comments

11 Responses

on July 23, 2015 at 6:50 am | Reply Steve Schwartzman

The dark marking looks like an elongated airplane.
- on July 23, 2015 at 6:53 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Definitely looks like an aircraft built with stealth technology, though the color makes it a little hard to hide from the naked eye (but maybe invisible on radar).
on July 23, 2015 at 7:27 am | Reply Dan Antion

Very cool!
- on July 23, 2015 at 7:35 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan.
on July 23, 2015 at 8:35 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I saw one of these a couple of years ago but haven’t seen one since. I was surprised by it too!
on July 23, 2015 at 10:51 am | Reply waltersanford

Be sure to post this spotting on Project Noah so you earn the “Moth Week” patch!
on July 24, 2015 at 4:48 pm | Reply Birder's Journey

What a find! Great name – so fitting for its appearance.
- on July 24, 2015 at 7:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I loved the bold pattern on its wings from the moment I saw the moth.
on July 25, 2015 at 4:51 pm | Reply Sue

Cool, never seen one of these before.
on July 28, 2015 at 5:49 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

How amazing, Mike! I can see how it got its name!
- on July 28, 2015 at 7:49 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Crusader Moth is not its real name–it’s one that I saw a few others use and adopted it. It’s fun sometimes to make up names for birds and insects and other creatures.