Favoritos de euproserpinus

Reared from caterpillar found on Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta). (Observation location and date refer to original caterpillar find.)
Eclosed: 2022-03-31.
(The included caterpillar picture may not show the exact same specimen as the photos of the adult moth.)

butterfly on desert peach, California, Inyo County, White Mountains, Cedar Flat, Westgard Pass, Deep Springs Valley watershed, elevation 2220 m (7285 ft).

See separate observation for host plant:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80307795

The morning's prize: the Oso Flaco Flightless Moth. Powell described this species in 1972 based on collections from the nearby Dune Lakes, which are apparently inaccessible these days. As you might guess the moth cannot fly, but it does have enlarged hind legs that allow it to jump up and get carried by the breeze that is almost always blowing over the dunes. Its mixture of scurrying and wind-catching is pretty much how you find it, because as you can see it's really small and perfectly camouflaged in the sand. I believe it's the only species of moth in North America where both males and females cannot fly.

They like active sand and are diurnal. Powell recommended looking for them on exposed slopes in the dunes near vegetation, though we ended up finding them at the crest of a dune. The larval tubes can be found by digging fairly close to the surface under vegetation. They attach to the roots so the larvae can feed.

Liam, of course, spotted them first, and Powell had not seen them for many years, so it was a good day for all.

Came to black light/MV trap. Live Oak/chaparral habitat. 608 ft elevation. 50.9mm wingspan spread. 2019GM-0032.
@jimjohnson: here is a fresh, new specimen. After looking at MONA 22/1 I'm assuming specimens from California are P. californica, unless from the Lake Tahoe area, where Pheosia rimosa is also reported; is this a safe assumption?