Identification
forewing grayish to purplish-brown with wavy black lines; typical form has diffuse broken black band running from basal area to apex; form "selecta" lacks this band, form "pallida" is very pale, form "hesseli" is very dark (melanic)
hindwing pinkish-red with black bands; fringe wide and yellowish-white
Range
Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Arizona, north to Montana
Season
adults fly from July to October
Food
larvae feed on leaves of several species of poplar (Populus spp.) and Black Willow (Salix nigra)
Life Cycle
overwinters as an egg; eggs are laid on tree bark in the fall and hatch in the spring; larvae feed in foilage of trees, then descend the trunk and pupate on the ground; adults emerge from pupa at the soil surface
Internet References
live and pinned adult images plus biology, host plants, distribution, etc. (Bill Oehlke, silkmoths.bizland.com)
adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
pinned adult image (Alain Charpentier, Insects of Quebec)
pinned adult image (Dale Clark, dallasbutterflies.com)
common name reference plus food plants and flight season (Ohio State U.)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 27 August, 2005 - 10:58pm
Additional contributions by
tom murrayLast updated 31 December, 2005 - 5:17pm
