In May I visited The Galapagos Islands with a group of fellow college students. It was in the highlands, on the island of Santa Cruz, that I encountered this little beauty. With spread wings measuring only about 1 inch or so across, this Red-waisted Florella Moth (Syngamia florella) was photographed while foraging on an Indian Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum). Syngamia florella is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species was likely introduced to the islands in 1906 on plants in the family Rubiacea.
A special thank you goes to my friend Heather for helping me sleuth out an identity of this moth and to my cousin Alison for helping me id the plant. If anyone has additional info for this particular species I would love to learn more!
