Virginia Ctenucha - North America's largest wasp moth.

Wasp moths are a group of moths that exhibit bold colours that suggest it presents a danger of some form.  This is true for both caterpillars and adults of the species Virginia ctenucha.  The vivid blue and yellow is actually a form of mimicry where the insect is harmless but wary predators leave it alone.

Many wasp moths are serious pests of crops or trees.  One of the most effective forms of control is biological using Trichogramma wasps.  These solitary Hymenoptera adults lay eggs on the eggs of over 200 Lepidoptera species.  The young hatch quickly and consume the host egg before pupating.  They only need as single caterpillar egg to feed on as the resulting adult is very small.

Virginia ctenucha is not a pest of crops or trees; the food source for its caterpillars are grass, irises, and sedges.  The adults, like many moths, feed on pollen and nectar and are important pollinators of flowers. They are common east of the Rockies across the entire continent and are found north of mid-states latitudes.

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