Vampire Moth
Common NameVampire Moth
Scientific NameCalyptra minuticornis
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyCalpinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, tan
HabitatForests, woodlands, and areas with host plants
Geographic RangeEastern Europe, Russia, East Asia (China, Japan, Korea), Southeast Asia
Host PlantsMenispermum dauricum, other Menispermaceae species
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on plants in the Menispermaceae family. Adults are known for their unique feeding habits, including piercing fruit and, in some cases, mammal skin to consume fluids.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive long, pointed labial palpi, the angular and mottled brown forewings that mimic a dead leaf, and its nocturnal activity.
Description
A medium-sized moth with highly cryptic, angular, leaf-like wings in shades of brown and tan, featuring a prominent, pointed snout-like labial palpi.
