Species Cucullia asteroides - Goldenrod Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10200

10200

The Asteroid

Larvae to 45mm

Caterpillar: "Usually bright green or brown with yellow, black and white striping, but exceedingly variable...mid-dorsal stripe yellow, often narrowly edged with white, occasionally flanked by variously developed black subdorsal stripe. If subdorsal is absent, then five or six black pinstripes above level of spiracles." - Wagner p. 388(1) Base color may also be tan, or purple and brown, especially in later instars.

southern Canada and United States east of the Rockies

adults fly from May to September

larvae feed primarily on the flowers of goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and aster (Aster spp.)

Overwinters in the pupal stage in a tough underground cocoon.

There has been significant discussion whether all these are the same species of Cucullia or not. Seems as though there may be several species that look very similar as larvae.

Cucullia postera, C.omissa, C. florea are likely to have similar caterpillars, according to Wagner.

live adult image (John Himmelman, Connecticut)

pinned adult image plus description, distribution, etc. (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)

live larva image (richard-seaman.com)

live larva image (Stephen Cresswell, West Virginia)

common name reference [The Asteroid] plus other info (Ohio State U.)