Ant with a diurnal (daytime) moth on Arroyo Willow

A week ago, I got this photo of a little diurnal (daytime) moth working a pistillate catkin of Arroyo Willow. I went back the next day hoping to get a sharper photo of the moth, and I found this scene instead - it's an ant taking one of the moths apart. I didn't see it happen, but I'll wager that the ant caught the moth on a willow flower - see this photo from last year of an ant attacking a fly! The ants are tending their aphids on the willow catkins, and they do not like other insects getting close. I'm still not sure what kind of moth this is - or was. This photo shows its orange underwings. Maybe I've seen these moths before on the willows, see this photo from last year. (San Marcos Pass, 7 February 2018)

Taken in: United States / California / Santa Barbara (show map)

Taken on: February 7, 2018

Tags:

Ant

Formicidae

Arroyo Willow

Diurnal

daytime

moth

lepidoptera

Salix lasiolepis

Salicaceae

San Marcos Pass

Santa Barbara County

California « less

Sets appears in: • All Insects 5 • Ants (Formicidae) more » • Moths (Lepidoptera) « less

Groups appears in: • Ants • Moth Mania more » • Insect Photography • Predator and Prey « less

Camera: Nikon D7100, f/11.0, 1/400 sec, 105mm (=157mm), ISO 280 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7100
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	105mm (35mm equivalent: 157mm)
ISO:	280
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Fine Weather
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.01
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