Moths

Moss-mimicking Prominent Moth (Notodontidae) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Saturniid moth, Eacles sp. (Costa Rica). This genus of large moths is superbly camouflaged against decaying leaf litter.

Gaudy Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha labruscae, from Costa Rica.

Giant Silk Moth, Arsenura armida (Saturniidae), from Costa Rica.

Wood-mimicking moth (Notodontidae: genus Nystalea) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Cryptic moth (Bombycidae: Naprepa houla) from Costa Rica.

Possibly Pyralidae, from Costa Rica.

This moth from Costa Rica does an outstanding impression of a splintered piece of wood. (Heterodelta nea, Noctuidae: Hadeninae)

Wasp-mimicking tiger moth, Isanthrene felderi (Arctiidae), from Monteverde, Costa Rica. This remarkable mimicry is established with yellow and black warning coloration, falsely "membranous" wings, and wasp-like antennae - a very convincing combination.

Hummingbird Moth, family Sphingidae, from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Close-up of a Luna moth's forewing eyespot (Actias luna - Iowa, USA).

Schlaeger's Fruitworm Moth, Antaeotricha schlaegeri (Iowa, USA).

Owlet Moth (Noctuidae: Pyreferra pettiti) from Iowa, USA.

Half-Wing Moth, Phigalia titea (Iowa, USA).

Grapevine Epimenis moth, Psychomorpha epimenis (Iowa, USA).

Possibly an Erebid moth (Iowa, USA).

Geometer moth (Geometridae). (Iowa, USA)

male Luna Moth, Actias luna (Iowa, USA).

One might think it would be difficult to imitate bird feces and look good at the same time, but this Beautiful Wood-Nymph, Eudryas grata, pulls it off quite well. (Iowa, USA)

Scape Moth (Arctiinae: genus Idalus) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Slug caterpillar moth, Limacodidae, from Costa Rica.

Bombycid Moth (Bombycidae: Quentalia, probably Q. secatina) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Mossy-textured moth (possibly Notodontidae) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Grass moth (Crambidae: Sparagmia gonoptera) from Costa Rica. To my eye, it appears to be imitating a damaged leaf, complete with chew marks.

A very perky grass moth (Crambidae: possibly genus Lineodes) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Saturniid moth (Saturniidae: Lonomia sp.) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Footman Moth, Procalypta victorina, from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Not all moths try to blend in; some are rather boldly patterned, like this Josiomorpha species (Arctiini) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.