These striking moths are not commonly seen in Montana, so we were thrilled that Carly’s kids found one. They are on the wing from mid June to late August in moist meadows and forest habitats at low elevations in the Pacific Northwest. They range widely, from British Columbia to the St. Lawrence River region in the north, and from Utah and New Mexico to Georgia in the south. Adults sip flower nectar, while the larvae feed on general herbaceous vegetation, particularly plants in the aster family like dandelion, ironweed, and thistles. 

Photo by: Carly Hogue on 8/11/21 in Ronan, MT