Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Thyris sepulchralis Guérin-Méneville, 1832
Pseudothyris sepulchralis (Guérin-Méneville, 1832) Thiele, 1986
Thyris lugubris Boisduval, 1852
Thyris margaritana (Clemens, 1862)
Identification
Adult: wings black with large median and other smaller white spots; those at margin give wings a ragged look. Hindwing has white median patch.
(1)Range
Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan and Ontario.
(2),
(3),
(4),
(5),
(6)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Season
Adults appear to be most common from February to July.
(1),
Moth Photographers GroupFood
Larvae feed on
Smilax species.
(7)
Adults take nectar from flowers of herbaceous plants, and have been seen taking fluids from damp sand (guide photos and photos in Internet references).
Remarks
Conspicuous when seen flying in daytime because of bold pattern.
(1) Sometimes mistaken for Butterflies.
See Also
Spotted Thyris (
Thyris maculata) is smaller, and its forewing has orange shading and fewer white spots.
Print References
Covell, p. 393, plate 56 #13
(8) (1)
Thiele, J.H.R., 1986. Die Gattung Thyris Hoffmannsegg, 1803. Uber die Ergebnisse der Untersuchungen fur eine Monographie (Lep., Thyridae). Atalanta (Munchen), 17:
105-146.
Internet References
distribution and
pinned and live adult images by James Adams and Randy Emmitt respectively (Dalton State College, Georgia)
live adult image and date (Dale Clark, Texas)
presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)