Other Common Names
Humped Green Fruitworm (larva)
Pyramidal Green Fruitworm (larva)
Explanation of Names
PYRAMIDOIDES: probably a reference to the pyramid-shaped hump on the larva
Identification
Adult: forewing glossy brown with prominent pale orbicular spot, jagged black antemedial (AM) and subterminal (ST) lines, and streaked subterminal area that is paler than remainder of wing (see Lynn Scott's page for detailed description)
hindwing coppery orange with no postmedial (PM) line or black margin
Larva: body light green with sparse white spots; spiracles black; spiracular line white with shades of yellow; eighth abdominal segment with large dorsal hump
Season
adults fly from July through October
larvae present in May and June
Food
larvae are general feeders on leaves of many broadleaf trees and shrubs, including apple, basswood, hawthorn, maple, oak, walnut, raspberry, grape
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg
Remarks
Not one of the "true" Underwings (Catocala spp.) which have either all-black or banded hindwings.
The coppery-orange hindwing of A. pyramidoides is diagnostic but rarely visible in live moths, as they tend to keep their forewings together, covering the hindwings.
See Also
Mouse Moth (
Amphipyra tragopoginis) is smaller with uniformly-colored and darker brown wings (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
on the US west coast, larvae of
Feralia februalis are very similar but have tan spiracles (not black) and the spiracular line has a red dorsal edge (not yellow)
Internet References
live adult image plus description, host plants, and season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
pinned adult image (Insects of Quebec)
live and diseased adult images (John Himmelman, Connecticut)
pinned adult image plus other info (Gerald Fauske, North Dakota State U.)
pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
live larva image plus description and other info (Jeffrey Miller, US Geological Survey)
live larva image by Lance Risley, William Paterson U., New Jersey (insectimages.org)
common name reference [Humped Green Fruitworm; larva] (insectimages.org)
common name reference [Pyramidal Green Fruitworm; larva] (Ohio State U.)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 20 March, 2005 - 6:29pm
Last updated 11 June, 2006 - 2:44pm
