Drasteria mirifica

Distinguished from similar Drasteria species by its specific wing pattern and coloration. The combination of small size (30 mm wingspan), cryptic forewings, and bright orange-red hindwings with dark markings is diagnostic. Distinguished from Drasteria hastingsii and other congeners by hindwing color pattern and geographic range.

A small moth with a wingspan of approximately 30 mm. Forewings are patterned with muted, earthy tones for camouflage. Hindwings are brightly colored, typically orange or red with dark markings, normally concealed at rest.

Occurs in grassland and prairie habitats, particularly near wetlands and riparian areas with cottonwood groves. Found in heavily grazed prairie landscapes with scattered trees.

Western North America: Nevada, Oregon, California, and Colorado. Records exist from the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain foothills.

Adults active in mid-summer, with records from July. Specific flight period poorly documented.

Employs a startle defense tactic: when disturbed, it rapidly exposes its brightly colored hindwings to startle predators before taking flight. This behavior complements its cryptic forewing camouflage when at rest.

• Drasteria hastingsiiSimilar size and genus, but distinguished by hindwing pattern and more northern/coastal distribution
• Euscirrhopterus gloveriAnother owlet moth with similar startle defense using bright hindwings, but larger and with different forewing pattern

• owlet moth
• startle defense
• western North America
• Erebidae
• underwing moth

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Meloidae Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
• Bug Eric: National Moth Week Recap for Colorado Springs