# Scarce Merveille du Jour (*Moma alpium*) The Scarce Merveille du Jour is a beautiful moth with colorful patterns on its wings. It loves to hide in trees and is most active at night, making it a special sight for those who spot it. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Scarce Merveille du Jour](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Moma_alpium.jpg&width=800) Photo: Donald Hobern, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moma_alpium.jpg) ## Appearance The Scarce Merveille du Jour has distinctive bright moss-green forewings with striking black and white markings, resembling lichen-covered bark. Its hindwings are typically greyish-brown. This unique coloration provides excellent camouflage against tree trunks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Noctuidae - **Genus:** Moma ## Interesting facts - Finding this rare moth means you've discovered a treasure of ancient woodlands! - It rests motionless on tree trunks, blending perfectly to become almost invisible! - Its bristly caterpillar eats oak leaves, then hides to transform into a moth! - Named "wonder of the day," this moth ironically flies only after dark! ## Special abilities - **Night Navigator:** Scarce Merveille du Jour can fly and find flowers because of its excellent night vision, helping it feed. - **Nectar Sipper:** Scarce Merveille du Jour has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them drink sweet nectar from flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-42 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Young caterpillars munch on tree leaves, while adult moths sip sweet flower nectar! - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on tree leaves, while adults feed on nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Oak leaves, Nectar from nocturnal flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Pipistrelle (*Pipistrellus pipistrellus*) — Bats hunt adult moths at night. - **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Birds eat caterpillars and resting moths. - **Eats:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves. - **Eats:** [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) — Caterpillars also feed on these leaves. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moths are gentle creatures, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Scarce Merveille du Jour? 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 Scarce Merveille du Jour's wingspan? 35-42 mm ### How big is Scarce Merveille du Jour? 15-20 mm ### How long does Scarce Merveille du Jour live? 7-14 days ### What does Scarce Merveille du Jour eat? Young caterpillars munch on tree leaves, while adult moths sip sweet flower nectar! ### Where is Scarce Merveille du Jour usually found? Forests ### How does Scarce Merveille du Jour hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Scarce Merveille du Jour have? 6 ## 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: [Scarce Merveille du Jour: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scarce-merveille-du-jour)