Identification
Adult: forewing variably yellowish-beige to greenish-gray to grayish-brown or a patchy diffuse combination of those colors; AM and PM lines jagged, black, lined with white on side away from median area; large dull yellowish basal patch usually present; short black streaks in subterminal area near costa and near anal angle; triangular tuft of black scales midway along inner margin projects upward when moth holds wings in resting "tent" position (see
example photo)
hindwing white in male; gray in female
Larva: body green or whitish-green with conspicuous yellow spiracular stripe often edged with red, and continuing onto head and mandibles; body below spiracular stripe bright green with elongate maroon spot on most segments; top of eighth abdominal segment with small orangish-red knob
[larval description adapted from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Range
New Brunswick to Florida, west to eastern California, north to Manitoba (absent from Pacific northwest)
Season
adults fly from April to August in the south; May to July in north
larvae present from June to October
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of oak (Quercus spp.)
Life Cycle
two generations per year in the south; one or two in the north
Print References
Covell, p. 330, plate 42 #8
(1)
Internet References
Lynn Scott, Ontario live adult images plus description, foodplant, flight season
Larry Line, Maryland adult images showing range of coloration
Dave Czaplak, Maryland live adult image showing triangular tuft of black scales
Moths of North America pinned adult image by Paul Opler, plus US distribution map (USGS)
Caterpillars of Eastern Forests live larva image plus description, foodplants, seasonality, life cycles (David Wagner and Valerie Giles, USGS)
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection has 21 pinned specimens, including specimens from that state.
Contributed by
Cotinis on 10 June, 2004 - 2:14pm
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 2 June, 2006 - 8:26am
