Tag Archives: Ceanothus

Ceanothus, wild lilac, has been in bloom, so it’s not a surprise to find the striking Ceanothus Silk Moth. But it was a surprise when one landed on Danielle Warner’s shirt.

She wrote, “The moth was hanging out in the driveway prior to that, I guess. It flew onto my shirt as I was trying to move it to safety. It hung out for about a minute, seemed pretty content, then I moved it into the field.” Danielle’s shirt is just about the color of Ceanothus blooms.

Here's a photo I took of blooming Ceanonthus.

Thanks to Danielle for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

It's a lovely day, except for some fog along portions of the coast. Sunny, breezy, and warm away from the coast. Sounds like spring!

Karen Tracy and a friend were walking on the bluffs recently when they came across this beautiful Elegant Sheep Moth, Hemileuca eglanterina. It is a Silk Moth and a California native. This moth only appears in the summer and is a rare sighting.

With its pink wings highlighted in black and its yellow body, this is one beautiful moth. No surprise, this California native feeds on native plants, which include Ceanothus and California Coffee-Berry.

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To see another photo of this moth showing two mating, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/10/16/elegant-sheepmoth-a-beautiful-and-rare-moth-photographed-by-patricia-mcbratney/