Callizzia amorata (Gray Scoopwing Moth)

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This is the only member of the family Uraniidae (Swallowtail Moths) in our region. Uraniidae, a family of mostly showy and mostly tropical moths, only has 9 species in 8 genera in the whole US. Their caterpillar most resembles an inchworm moth’s (Geometridae) and they are in the same superfamily (Geometroidea). 

I was excited to finally find one of these very cool little (fw 11mm) moths, even though they are not an uncommon species. They are found in damp (mesic) forests throughout the PNW, but are rare or absent from the more arid regions. The larvae feed on Lonicera spp. (honeysuckles)and Symphoricarpos spp. (snowberry), and one source (Covell, 1984) states that they live communally in webs. 

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http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-uraniidae/subfamily-epipleminae/callizzia/callizzia-amorata/

https://bugguide.net/node/view/42485

Size- FW length 11mm

Habitat- Mesic forests

Range- Primarily on the western slope of the Cascades, and the western slope of the Rockies. Native

Eats- Larvae feed on Lonicera spp. (Honeysuckle) and Symphoricarpos spp. (Snowberry)

Flight season- June to August

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