Explanation of Names
badia - from the Latin "badius" (reddish-brown or bay-colored); probably refers to the color of the patches on the forewing
Skiff - perhaps from the resemblance of the caterpillar to one of those small boats
Numbers
Common; sometimes abundant in Florida
(1)Identification
Adult: forewing pale brown tinted with white at base; dark brown strip along costa near base widens to form semicircular patch covering most of forewing, narrowing to costa at apex; patch has blackish reniform dot, and lower edge bordered with white; hindwing brown
(1)
Larva: body smooth, strongly humped dorsally, highest at fourth abdominal segment; dorsum highly variable from brown to green; posterior drawn out to point; sides green, occasionally marked with white spots that resemble damaged or necrotic leaf tissue
[adapted from description at Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Range
New Hampshire to Florida, west to southern Ontario, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi
(1)Habitat
woodlands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
Larvae from July to October
Adults from May to September
(1)Food
larvae feed on leaves of wide variety of trees and shrubs, including birch, blueberry, cherry, chestnut,
Hophornbeam (
Ostrya virginiana), oak, poplar,
Sweetgale (
Myrica gale), willow, and others
Life Cycle
one generation per year in the north; overwinters as a pupa
Print References
Covell, page 410, plate 56 (#5)
(1)
Arnett, page 700, figure 27.78
(2)
Eastern Forest Insects, page 348
(3)Internet References
Photos of various life stages by various photographers (forestryimages.org)
pinned adult images by James Adams, and live adult image by May Lenzer (Dalton State College, Georgia)
Caterpillar account and photo (David Wagner and Valerie Giles, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests, USGS)
Caterpillar photos (Giff Beaton, Georgia)
Contributed by
Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 10 July, 2006 - 2:55am
