Dimorphic Pinion

Lithophane patefacta.

On a screen outside my home office.

A moth that perhaps shouldn't be here? 

BugGuide has no records for New Jersey.

Nor does the Butterflies and Moths of North America site.

The Moth Photographers Group has one report; the dot on the map appears to be in the Cape May area (and there is a photograph by John Maxwell, one of my go to 'bug geek' friends).

In an email exchange with John he noted that on BugGuide the moth had been ID'd as Lithophane petulca, Wanton Pinion.

And as part of that same email thread, my friend Ann-Marie noted that she had a possible L. patefacta also in South Jersey, and was in communication with a fellow who is reviewing the genus and agreed with the ID.

And the go to field guide for Moths in this area, the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America, by Beadle and Leckie, has the moth in New Jersey, but in the northern part of the state (our place in is the southern part of the state).

So what was it doing hanging out on my deck (if it was)?

🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋  🦋

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.