Observation date: May 12, 2011
Submitted by: booga712
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: We live in Portland, OR and found this on our front porch. He's been here at least 24-36 hours. The purple part of it's wings are usually hidden, unless you touch it then it brings these out and will bow/bounch up and down as if to try to ward us off. It really hasn't moved much except when my husband flipped it over to see if it's still alive and it flipped itself back over - and if you touch it gently it will flare the purple eyes out then slowly bring them back in. It didn't move all night long last night - it's in the same place this morning. We are just curious as to what it is! Thank you!
Status: Resident
Verified by: danaross
Verified date: June 02, 2011
Coordinator notes: A common and beautiful species that feeds on willow at a caterpillar. The behavior you experienced was indeed the moth using motion and wing pattern (eye spots) to "scare you off" so you wouldn't eat him.
