Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae: tent catepillars and lappett moths

Class: Hexapoda (animals with six legs - includes all insects)
    lepido = scale and ptera = wings (singular is pteron)
    The wings are covered with small scales.
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
Family: Lasiocampidae (tent catepillars and lappett moths)
Species: Tolype sp.
Common Name: moth (not species specific)
Date: 2003 September 27
Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    Pine Springs Visitor Center (at lights)

Knudson and Bordelon (1999) list 7 species for the Park.

Most species have a body length around 1 inch. These moths have thick hairy bodies and so tend to hold their wings roof-like over their bodies when resting. This Tolype moth is very attractive, its wings have a translucent quality and its hairy head reminds me of an Old-English Sheep Dog.

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Note: This is a personal web site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Contact information for the author, Ron Lyons, is accessible through the Index Page referenced below. Thank you.