Painted Lichen Moth

 This pretty, colorful, little moth is the Painted Lichen Moth Hypoprepia fucosa, in the family Acrtiidae, which is the same family as the tiger moths. They are small with a wingspan up to one inch. What they lack in size they more than make up for in coloration. The forewings are reddish-orange, with dark gray and yellow bands. The hindwing is pinkish with bands of gray.  After mating, the female will lay her eggs near lichens, mosses and algae which are the host plants for the caterpillars. Typically these moths will be found near woodlands, and they are attracted to porch lights. Mosses and Lichens tend to be pollution sensitive, therefore you may not find these moths near heavily populated cities.