A Special Moth

[Peter Dexter]

According to a Colombian student of Lepidoptera this moth is identified as Eucereon albinota. It was first identified (8 kilometers from my home) in 1910 by Paul Dognin, a French entomologist whose collections are now in the National Museum of History in Washington DC. The identifier of my photo commented that it may be the only existing photograph of a living specimen as Dognin's images were pinned. This is speculation of course but kind of exciting nevertheless. Indeed if you search the species on GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) his collection is the only known occurrence.

 

[Jerome Marot]

I see that the same picture was uploaded here: https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/24555/eucereon_albinota.html

 

[Peter Dexter]

Yes.

 

[Asher Kelman]

So that’s part of your collection?

How do you persuade it to stay put? Did you just then let it fly away?

Asher

 

[Peter Dexter]

They alight on an outside wall where there is an exterior light. Most of them are not troubled by my approaching with the camera and stay put for a while.