# Orthodes noverca The Orthodes noverca, also known as the 'Mother-of-pearl Moth', is a beautiful insect with shiny wings. It loves to fly around gardens and fields, especially at night when it looks for flowers to sip nectar from. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens and fields - **Also known as:** Mother-of-pearl Moth ![Orthodes noverca](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/405266473/medium.jpg) Photo: Trevor Van Loon, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/405266473) ## Appearance The Orthodes noverca is a small, stout-bodied moth with mottled brownish-grey forewings. It often features a darker, irregular median band and a distinct kidney-shaped spot, called a reniform stigma, near the center. Its hindwings are paler and somewhat translucent. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Noctuidae - **Genus:** Orthodes ## Interesting facts - Even in winter, some of these moths survive as pupae, waiting for spring! - Its caterpillars often hide by rolling up leaves to build a cozy, safe shelter. - The word 'noverca' in its name means 'stepmother' in Latin! - This moth belongs to a family where many members have 'ears' to hear bats! ## Special abilities - **Night Camouflage:** Orthodes noverca can blend perfectly into tree bark because of its mottled brown wings that help them hide from predators during the day. - **Scent Tracking:** Orthodes noverca can find flowers in the dark because it has sensitive antennae that detect faint chemical scents, helping them locate nectar sources. - **Agile Dodging:** Orthodes noverca can quickly dart away from danger because of its powerful wing muscles that enable agile escape maneuvers in flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-30 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on various plants, while adult moths sip sweet flower nectar. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on leaves and stems; adults drink nectar. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, herbaceous plants, tree leaves, flower nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Bats hunt moths using echolocation at night. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds may prey on resting moths during the day. - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Adults visit flowers like goldenrod for nectar. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Its caterpillars feed on various types of grasses. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moths are usually safe to watch, but don't touch them as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Orthodes noverca? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Orthodes noverca's wingspan? 25-30 mm ### How big is Orthodes noverca? 15-25 mm ### How long does Orthodes noverca live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Orthodes noverca fly? 8 km/h ### What does Orthodes noverca eat? Caterpillars munch on various plants, while adult moths sip sweet flower nectar. ### Where is Orthodes noverca usually found? Gardens and fields ### How does Orthodes noverca hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Orthodes noverca: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orthodes-noverca)