Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
no synonyms given at
All-Leps (but specific epithet sometimes misspelled "cerealis")
described in 1872 by Zeller, who originally placed it in the genus Eurycreon
Identification
Adult: forewing whitish or pale gray with several longitudinal black and brown streaks; whitish or pale yellow patch in median area near costa; subterminal area yellow, shaped liked an almost-flat triangle; fringe dark brownish-gray; hindwing gray with darker shading along veins, fringe pale gray
Larva: body yellowish to dark green with broad light-colored stripe down back, and darker stripe parallel to light stripe
Range
Quebec and New York to Georgia, west to California, north to British Columbia
also occurs in Mexico
Habitat
fields, gardens, waste places
Season
adults fly from May to September
Food
larvae feed on alfalfa and a variety of other crops and weed species
Life Cycle
overwinters as a larva or pupa; adults emerge in spring; 2-20 eggs are laid in overlapping groups on underside of leaves of hostplant
See Also
Beet Webworm Moth (
Loxostege sticticalis) forewing is yellowish-brown without black longitudinal streaks, and hindwing has pale PM band
Internet References
live adult images plus description and foodplants (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
live adult image (Steve Walter, New York)
pinned adult image by Jim Vargo, plus photos of related species (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult image plus description, common name reference, similar species, distribution, foodplants (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)
pinned adult image and comment on distribution (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
live larva image plus biology and description of this and similar species (U. of California at Davis)
distribution map and references (Markku Savela, FUNET, Finland)
author and date (nearctica.com)
