#mint moth

Feeding Mint Moth

Immigrating in adulthood means that I get the exciting experience of being surprised by life around me. I didn’t grow up with them, you see.

Yesterday the surprise came in the form of a moth the size of a thumbnail. I was hanging up laundry when I saw it - the first impression was a small fly, with a dense quickness and buzz. I could identify “moth” by its gestures, but I was enchanted by the brilliance of the graphic design - the sweet velvety purple-brown color set against the bright gold - and the gratified, lavish attention it was paying to my variegated oregano. It was tremendously excited by some mysterious property of that oregano. I mean, I get it too, but I hardly ever do an interpretive dance on it. It reminded me of a cat romping on a fresh catnip plant.

After research, I was happy to meet the MINT MOTH or SMALL PURPLE AND GOLD, which just goes to show that moth-namers - more than any other natural historians - understand the assignment. They give you two choices, both good, both descriptive, and conveying the essential character. Trustworthy folk, your moth people. My moth-fancying friend, who goes out of her way to meet new moths, has a Facebook album called Much Ado About Mothing and goes to local mothing meetings, sometimes posting the minutes, which only reinforces my take here; these people are trustworthy, diligent hands to place problems in.

I like the Linnean name too: Pyrausta aurata, the ‘aurata’ meaning gold-adorned, gilded; and Pyrausta possibly being a reference to a Greek mythological insect, which is exciting because you don’t get many mythological insects. but you’d better research that for yourself, as I didn’t see a single source I liked very much.

And best of all I liked the description of its habits. The Mint Moth loves mint and marjoram, and is a delightfully common visitor in gardens that grow these. In the wild, it follows watermint and wild marjoram. These plants form forage for its polite caterpillars, who barely affect the host plants at all. And if you have a garden in the uk with mint and marjoram, a very tiny creature the size of a thumbnail may come and roll around in it.

Now, I have mint and marjoram - but it really wanted that oregano, which was interesting to think about - something worth exploring and understanding better, even though it isn’t the food source of its caterpillars. Oregano is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which mint and marjoram belong to, so it clearly has something that mint moths like; and even though the marjoram is right next to it, it was clearly worthy of deep mothy investigation. Who knows what’s in the mind of a moth! I hope if any caterpillars emerge from this little dance, they’re happy with eating oregano…

Hi all! Im participating in Moth May, started by Bluesky user Jess Taylor

Mint Moth

Pyrausta aurata

[Right | Left]

The mint moth is a part of the family Crambidae, the grass moth family. It was first described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli (sometimes Latinized to Johannes Antonius Scopolius).

Cye!! my mint moth boy!

@biitumen​ submitted: Greetings! I saw this tiny but beautiful moth (?) on my sage plant in Victoria bc this morning

any idea what he is?

17th July 2023: Stockbridge Down

Photos taken in this set are of: 1 and 9. Chalkhill Blues. Another stunning butterfly that I love to see of late, they're summer's crown. I was so looking forward to looking for them this year especially with seeing of sightings the last week or two, it was amazing to see these silky gems of chalk grassland. I am always impressed by how many of these and butterflies I see at Stockbridge Down, it really is a wonderful and richly vegetated spot which is so good for insects. 2. Another special insect to see today, my first ever Forester's moth. An emerald star which I knew of and had wanted to see for ages so this was a good moment. 3. Mint moth, a charming and well coloured moth I was also hopeful of seeing today. 4-8. Beautiful colourful and panoramic views at this pretty spot. 10. Some delightful common toadflax, I enjoy seeing them and have seen a fair few lately.