Orange Spotted Sun Moth (1/6)

Lepidoptera: Castniidae

Synemon parthenoides  

Also known as Link Moth.

After spending hours trying to identify which species of skipper butterfly this was, I eventually managed to discover that it wasn't a butterfly at all but was a moth with several butterfly-type features.

Like butterflies, Sun Moths are diurnal and have colourful wings. Also like butterflies, and unlike any other moth, they have antennae which are clubbed at the end. Furthermore, whilst I saw them resting with wings in the typical moth house-roof position, I also saw them with wings straight up in the butterfly closed-wing position.

It would be handy if butterfly field guides included such a patent butterfly-wannabe.