# White-tipped Ctenucha (*Ctenucha rubroscapus*) The White-tipped Ctenucha is a beautiful moth with bright colors and fluffy bodies. They are often found fluttering around flowers, where they look for nectar to drink. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![White-tipped Ctenucha](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ctenucha_rubroscapus.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Dianne Fristrom, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ctenucha_rubroscapus.jpeg) ## Appearance The White-tipped Ctenucha has a striking metallic blue-black body and bright red-orange head. Its antennae feature distinctive white tips. Sometimes, a red-orange band adorns the base of its forewings, making it visually distinct from many other dark moths. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Erebidae - **Genus:** Ctenucha ## Interesting facts - Caterpillars munch on grasses, but adults drink flower nectar! - It often pretends to be a wasp to keep enemies away! - Its fuzzy body might help it keep warm during cooler days. - Unlike most moths, it loves to zip around in the sunshine. ## Special abilities - **Daylight Navigator:** White-tipped Ctenucha can fly during the day because of special adaptations that help them avoid night-flying predators and find flowers. - **Wasp Impersonator:** White-tipped Ctenucha has colors and flight patterns that help them look like a stinging wasp, scaring off potential predators. - **Bright Antennae Beacon:** White-tipped Ctenucha has bright white tips on its antennae that might help them recognize other moths for mating. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-45 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grasses. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat grasses and sedges; adults drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Grasses, Sedges - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Adult moths are a food source for insectivorous birds. - **Pollinates:** Common Yarrow (*Achillea millefolium*) — Adults visit this flower for nectar, aiding in its pollination. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this common grass. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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 These moths are safe to watch, but it's best to leave them alone and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-tipped Ctenucha? 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 White-tipped Ctenucha's wingspan? 35-45 mm ### How big is White-tipped Ctenucha? 15-20 mm ### How long does White-tipped Ctenucha live? 7-14 days ### How fast can White-tipped Ctenucha fly? 12 km/h ### What does White-tipped Ctenucha eat? Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grasses. ### Where is White-tipped Ctenucha usually found? Grasslands ### How does White-tipped Ctenucha hunt? Foraging ## 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: [White-tipped Ctenucha: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tipped-ctenucha)