How an insect is named is often interesting. I’ve had this moth, a Mint-loving Pyrausta-Pyrausta acrionalis, visit the boneset for years. As I was putting this post together I wondered about the name and found that Pyrausta is a mythological small dragon that lived in fire and could not exist without. I’d guess, as moths are attracted to a flame, it is an appropriate connection.
This moth is rather small, @10mm or about 1/3″ and does resemble fire. Common Boneset aka Boneset Thoroughwort-Eupatorium perfoliatum is not a mint but in the aster family and I have not seen these on our mints but I’ll take its word for it.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
I’ve often noticed that some biologists have good imaginations in the way they name species. As for the myth, I’ve never heard of a dragon with the features and size of an insect. The website at https://offbeat.fandom.com/wiki/Pyrausta gives more information, including this:
“There are few primary sources describing the pyrausta, and none of them have much information. However, Una Woodruff revived the legend with her book Inventorum Naturum, a fictional translation of a nonexistent journal by Pliny the Elder. Her interpretation of the creatures as small, insectoid dragons has been mistakenly attributed to Pliny himself, and the draconic image of pyrausta has spread to popular culture.”
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“fictional translation of a nonexistent journal”. The mistaken attribution to Pliny mirrors what we have seen with other similar credits such as “The Pelican” that folks say Nash did but was actually penned by Merritt.
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I’ve pointed out that misattribution to several people in blogland, along with various others I’ve found on the Internet in general. I always spend time trying to verify the wording and the source of anything I quote.
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Tack sharp shots. It has a beautiful pattern.
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Thanks, Belinda. Moths offer a lot more in patterns and interesting variations than most folks realize.
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A very handsome moth. My folks have several varieties of mint growing in their garden, but I don’t remember ever seeing this one. Great name, too.
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I’ve only seen this species on the Boneset but I am sure it earns its common name despite my not seeing it. Maybe now that you’ve seen a picture it may appear next time you visit. Generally I see them in the early evening.
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Beautiful! Boneset is a great name too.
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Boneset has a lot of medicinal uses but, as far as I have found, helping broken bones heal does not appear to be one of them. I made that mistaken assumption when I first identified it.
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The flowers did have a look of bleached bones in your pictures.
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That is a pretty fascinating bit about the insect sized dragon. I can see it in its coloration, and you have a great point about them being attracted to flames.
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There are some great stories behind common and scientific names both. Then there are names that defy the imagination and others that are named for those who find them. I guess Smaug would not have been as fearsome if a Pyrausta.
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Interesting that it is glossy… cool seeing the detail in the boneset, too.
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It isn’t really glossy but looks that way because of the flash overexposing just a bit on some of the scales. Boneset is one of my favorite wildflowers both for its beauty and the way it attracts so many different species.
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How interesting, I’m glad you looked it up. it’s nice to see Boneset again, and that’s a handsome little moth, beautifully photographed.
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Thanks, Lynn. I am glad too. Sometimes I forget to be curious. 🙂 It is nice to have Boneset growing in the yard again.
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I have noticed that I will stop being curious sometimes, and I think we need to give our brains a rest from inquiring about everything we see – sometimes the control center has to be turned off. 😉
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I also lose that sense of what is it while I am shooting…shoot first and ask questions later, I guess. 🙂
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I can certainly see the resemblance to glowing ember or flowing lava. Thanks for taking the time to look into the historical background of the name of this pretty little hottie.
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I’ve been seeing these little moths for years and only now that I decided to post one did I get curious about the name. Whatever it takes, I guess. Wouldn’t it be cool if there were in fact tiny dragons?
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Have you read any of Anne McCaffrey’s books about dragons? There are some truly unforgettable ones featuring some really small ones.
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I have not. Suggest one?
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I sure can: The first in the series was Dragonflight (1968), and it’s the essential introduction. There are many more, but the one that introduces the tiny ones (fire lizards) was Dragonquest, Part 2 (1971). Great stuff for lockdown.
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I went to Amazon and did a Look Inside of the first book. Not sure I could stay with that fantasy. I read LOTR quite a long time and am sure now I’d not be able to read it. Something in my brain changed years ago and now most anything I read puts me to sleep…even magazine articles.
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I understand (taking into account your enlightened interpretation of the word). Instead, consider The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss.
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Interesting about the Latin name Steve. I often wonder about the etymology of the naming. Lovely shot of this gorgeous mint moth.
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Sometimes the name is just fashioned after the discovering person, amateur or professional. It is a nice way to be immortalized until some taxonomist decides the name needs changing. 🙂 Thanks, Pete.
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