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Species Abrostola ovalis - Oval Abrostola - Hodges#8880

Oval Abrostola - side - Abrostola ovalis caterpillar on Hog Peanut - July 8 - Abrostola ovalis Abrostola ovalis Hancock NY - Abrostola ovalis Oval Nettle Moth - Abrostola ovalis Abrostola ovalis - Oval Abrostola - Hodges#8880 - Abrostola ovalis Oval Nettle Moth - Abrostola ovalis - Abrostola ovalis Moth - Abrostola ovalis Caterpillar with mimicry skills - Abrostola ovalis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily Plusiinae (Looper Moths)
Tribe Abrostolini
Genus Abrostola
Species ovalis (Oval Abrostola - Hodges#8880)
Hodges Number
8880
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Abrostola ovalis Guenée, 1852
Phloygenetic sequence #931161
Numbers
Four Abrostola species are found in America north of Mexico.
Size
forewing length 14-15 mm. (1)
Identification
Adults - forewing with large ovate pale area at base, outlined in black; remainder of wing dark grayish-brown with inconspicuous black-rimmed spots and slightly curved PM line; ST line jagged, pale-edged; hindwing pale basally, dark brown distally with yellowish fringe; thorax with two raised tufts of scales dorsally.
Range
Quebec and Maine to Georgia, west to Illinois, north to Wisconsin and Ontario.
Habitat
Open forests, wood edges, riparian areas where foodplants grow; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Season
Adults fly from May to August.
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) and other species of nettles. (2) Also Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata (Ilona L.)
Life Cycle
One generation per year in the north; perhaps a partial second generation or two generations southward.
Life Cycle images:
larva; older larva; older larva; pre-pupal larva; pupa; adult
Remarks
Apparently rare to very rare throughout its range.
See Also
Spectacled Nettle Moth (Abrostola urentis) - much more common and widespread; lacks a large pale patch at base of forewing.
Minute Oval Abrostola (Abrostola microvalis) - smaller, range limited to Texas.
Print References
Eichlin, T.D. & H.B. Cunningham 1978. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology. USDA Tech. Bulletin 1567: 1-122. (3)
Pogue, M.G. 2005. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zootaxa 1032: 1–28. (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living moth and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - species account with collection map and photos of pinned adults.
adult image plus dates and foodplant (Larry Line, Maryland)
distribution in Canada Ontario and Quebec only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
Works Cited
1.The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Michael G, Pogue. 2005. Magnolia Press Zootaxa 1032: 1–28.
2.The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 25.1. Noctuoidea, Noctuidae (part), Plusiinae
J. Donald Lafontaine, Robert W. Poole. 1991. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation.
3.The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology
Thomas D. Eichlin, Hugh B. Cunningham. 1978. United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 1567: 1-121.