Silver Y moth

[Goldie M]

In Sept I took a picture of this Silver Y Moth with a huge hole in it's body. I only remembered now because I was looking through my pics and spotted it. I was amazed at the time because it was still flying, could it be the victim of Wasps? does anybody Know Goldie M

[Vince Massimo]

Hi Goldie,

I knew I had seen something similar and have now managed to find the photo. Based on this photo I would speculate that it is not a hole but an area of the thorax which is usually hidden by a tuft of hair. Occasionally this tuft is raised exposing a bald area of the thorax, which in certain light may appear as a hole. In your photo that area is in shadow which adds to the impression of a hole.

Silver Y

Hope this helps, but as I said, this is only a theory.

Vince

[Goldie M]

Thank you Vince, your moth does look alot like mine, it also explains why it was flying.
I don't know a great deal about moths, do they all have this kind of deep thorax or is this just this particular moth Goldie M

[Matsukaze]

Depends on the family of moth - many do (such as the hawkmoths) but some, like the geometers, do not.

[Goldie M]

Thanks Matsukaze, I'll look up about the moths and their differances Goldie M