More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Moths of Zihuatanejo
ORDER LEPIDOPTERA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)
-Owlet Moths and Allies Superfamily Noctuoidea
Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths (Family Erebidae)
-Litter Moths (Subfamily Herminiinae)
-Genus Bleptina
Litter moths are generally nondescript, brownish moths often featuring intricate patterns that serve as camouflage, allowing them to blend in while resting on tree bark or among leaf litter on the forest floor. Adults generally have a wingspan of less than an inch. They hold their wings flat and to their sides, giving them a triangular shape when viewed from above. The caterpillars of most litter moths primarily feed on dead plant leaves. Others may consume living leaves or fungi. These moths are typically nocturnal, making them difficult to observe in the wild.
Bleptina Litter Moths
Bleptina (Genus)
Description
Bleptina is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. Adults are generally small to medium-sized, with broad, rounded wings in shades of grey, tan, and brown, often patterned with wavy transverse lines, darker bands, and mottled patches. These markings provide camouflage against bark, dried leaves, and other natural surfaces.
Range
Bleptina occurs primarily in the Americas, from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America into South America. Species occur along the Pacific coast of Mexico, including Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.
Habitat
It inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, seasonally dry woodland, scrub, forest edges, clearings, and disturbed vegetation. Adults are nocturnal and may be attracted to artificial lights, while larvae develop among vegetation and other sheltered plant substrates.
Diet
The larvae feed on plant material, including leaves and other soft tissues of suitable host plants, although specific food preferences vary by species. Adult feeding habits are not well documented across the genus, but may include consuming nectar and other liquid plant resources.