Virgin Tiger Moth

Grammia virgo

July 21, 2008

I was mowing the lawn yesterday morning and out popped this moth from a patch of weeds I was skirting.  I grabbed my camera for a shot and squeezed off two before it took off again.  You can see the right wing starting to get warmed up for flight. 

While I can fully understand this individual being called a Virgin Tiger Moth, what confuses me is it is the offspring of two Virgin Tiger Moths.  Perhaps upon mating they become Fallen Virgin Tiger Moths.

Here it is a second before take off, putting it in a good position to show those beautiful hind wings.