Dichogama colotha: a lovely Costa Rican moth
Dichogama colotha is a species of moth found in Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and southern Texas. A description of this little known species was first published in the Proceedings of the United States National Museum in 1912. D. colotha is a relatively small moth with white, almost iridescent wings that span 28-36mm, and tends to fly from June to October (Dyar 1912).
Moths (Order: Lepidoptera, alongside butterflies) are an incredibly diverse group of insects that are largely nocturnal. In North America alone there are over 12,000 species, though many moth species around the world are seldom seen due to their nocturnal habits. Moths can be incredibly important pollinators (depending on the plant) and are therefore worthy of just as much study and protection as butterflies and bees. I have taken a particular liking to moths and hold surveys at local nature centers to help them catalog species, so expect more information on moths in the future!
Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund, BOLD Systems
References:
Dyar, HG. 1912. Descriptions of new species and genera of Lepidoptera, chiefly from Mexico. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 42:103.
For some moth photographs: Flickr: Allysa Cervantes Hallett
DANTAisms 