Numbers
adults are uncommon but larvae may be a pest
Identification
Adult: head, thorax, and forewing deep reddish-brown; upper half of forewing dark brown from base to reniform spot; reniform spot gray-filled and indistinct; broken whitish subterminal line is only line clearly visible
hindwing white with narrow brown band at outer margin
Larva: two broad yellow horizontal stripes run along each side of body, separated by vertical black and white lines; head orange to bright red; legs and underside pink
Range
southern half of Canada and northern half of United States
Habitat
fields, vegetable gardens, waste places
Season
adults fly from April to September
larvae from June to September
Food
larvae feed on alfalfa, cabbage, carrot, clover, dandelion, dock (Rumex spp.), pea, pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), strawberry, sweetfern, blackberry, blueberry, hazel, apple, birch, cherry, plum, willow
Life Cycle
one generation per year in west; two or more generations in east; overwinters either as a pupa (in east) or partially-grown larva (in west)
Internet References
live larva and adult images and larval food plants (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
pinned adult image and larval food plants (John Glaser, Maryland)
live larva and adult image plus larval description and biology (Agriculture Canada)
pinned adult image (Ryan Vandermoor, British Columbia)
pinned adult image and other info (California Dept. of Food and Agriculture)
pinned adult image (Terry DeVries, U. of Nebraska)
US distribution map (Moths of North America; USGS)
common name reference and flight season (Ohio State U.)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 23 August, 2005 - 9:48am
Additional contributions by
Ethan KistlerLast updated 21 June, 2007 - 6:28pm
