Other Common Names
In Europe, this species is called Dark-barred Twin-Spot, and a different species (X. spadicearia) is called Red Twin-Spot. How's that for confusion?
Identification
Adult: forewing with wide dark reddish-brown or black median area, and double blackish spot in subterminal area below apical patch; basal area usually reddish-brown; apical patch usually brownish and diffuse; double blackish spot in subterminal areas is distinguishing feature
Range
holarctic; in North America ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland, south in the east to northern Georgia, south in the west to California
Habitat
suburban lawns and gardens
Season
adults fly from April/May to September
Food
North American larvae feed on chickweed (Stellaria spp.), ground-ivy or gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea), and smartweed (Polygonum spp.)
Life Cycle
at least two generations per year
Remarks
The larval food plants are commonly found in lawns that haven't been treated with weed-killer.
Internet References
live adult images plus description, larval foodplants, flight season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
live adult image (Ian Kimber, UK Moths)
live adult image (Jens Christian Schou, Denmark)
live larva image (Kimmo Silvonen, Finland)
pinned adult images showing variation in color between specimens (CBIF)
pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
common name reference plus larval food plants and flight season (Ohio State U.)
presence in Georgia [search on species "ferrugata"] specimen recorded in Towns County in July 2006 by James Adams and Irving Finkelstein (Lepidopterists Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)
distribution in Canada list of provinces and territories (CBIF)
world distribution map plus live and pinned adult images, foodplants, European common name reference (Markku Savela, FUNET)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 14 August, 2005 - 4:55pm
Additional contributions by
anitagouldLast updated 28 May, 2007 - 4:53pm
