Identification
Adult moth: Note pointed abdomen, contrasting black markings on hindwing.
Caterpillar: One large eyespot and six smaller ones progressing down the body, with a light stripe roughly bisecting the eyespots. Black "horn" on rear end. Both green and brown forms are known. In earlier instars, smaller eyespots are barely visible and striping more pronounced.
Range
Eastern, central, southwestern North America: Massachussetts, Ontario, to Florida, west to midwest, southwest, south through Mexico. Resident year-round in southern states and migrates north in warmer months.
Season
May-October (1 brood) in much of range, February-November (several broods) in Florida, Louisiana.
Food
Adults take nectar from deep-throated flowers.
Life Cycle
Larvae feed on Madder Family, Rubiaceae, including Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Manettia; and Bignoniaceae: Catalpa. Also noted, in North Carolina, from Virginia Buttonweed, Diodia virginiana, also in the Rubiaceae.
Pupates in loose soil
