# What kind of moth is this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816 "2009-09-04T01:42:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/1 "2009-09-04T01:42:17Z")

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I saw a moth on my window today that looked exactly like a shamrock. I couldn’t get a good picture of it, but I found [someone else’s picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/buggs_moran/158796786) on Flckr. The photographer had the same reaction I did. It was a very cool looking bug. Anyone know what kind of moth this is?

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/2 "2009-09-04T04:37:30Z")

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Looks like [Nemoria obliqua](http://ourfcs.friendscentral.org/moths/nemoria_obliqua.htm).

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/3 "2009-09-04T04:42:41Z")

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Let me rephrase that to the more non-specific “It looks like a Nemoria of some sort.” I’m no entomologist so I’m not going to attempt an actual species ID…the markings aren’t quite right for _obliqua_.

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**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/4 "2009-09-04T14:50:16Z")

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Looks pretty damn close to me, although the one in the Flckr picture may be the species mentioned in the article you linked to, the [namoria caerulescens](http://ourfcs.friendscentral.org/moths/nemoria_caerulescens.htm). It looks like that one has more white on its wings. Interestingly, your link says both of those species are found in the southwest U.S. - I’m in North Carolina. Hmmmm.

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**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/5 "2009-09-04T14:53:00Z")

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Ah! I just went outside to see if it was still there and it was! Thinking, oh no, I wonder if it’s dead, I blew on it very gently and it flew right into our house! Maybe I can get a better picture, at least.

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**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-moth-is-this/508816/6 "2009-09-04T14:59:02Z")

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[Here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/8173731@N06/3887382888/in/photostream/)it is. Picture still pretty crappy - I just have a little point and shoot camera. It looks more like the one you linked to - not very much white striation.