Bark Fragment Moth
Cacozelia basiochrealis
At uv light near Rackensack Wash, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 11 Aug. 2016. Sonoran Desert Scrub, Chaparral, and Riparian habitats.
Noctuidae -- Owlet Moth Family
Most moths fly at night and must hide effectively during the day and avoid being seen by sharp-eyed insectivorous birds. When perched on a tree branch this moth closely resembles a piece of the bark. By holding its abdomen up it adds to the look of a shaggy fragment. The large eyes are ready to detect motion - the insect will fly or drop to the ground if a bird has cracked its crypsis and is attacking.