Mesothen nomia
Common NameMesothen nomia
Scientific NameMesothen nomia
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsorange, black, blue, transparent
HabitatTropical rainforests, cloud forests, and humid tropical environments
Geographic RangeCentral America, South America (e.g., Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil)
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions
Lifecycle NotesLike many Arctiinae, the larvae are typically hairy and feed on various herbaceous plants, eventually pupating in a cocoon. Specific details for Mesothen nomia are not widely documented.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of transparent wings, a black and orange striped body with iridescent blue on the abdomen, and its overall wasp-like appearance and flight.
Description
This is a small, wasp-mimicking moth characterized by its transparent wings with dark veins and margins. Its robust body is strikingly striped in orange and black, with iridescent blue markings on the posterior abdomen.
