Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
The original description of the species by
Pieter Cramer was published in 1780 (some sources say 1779) with the name
Phalaena marthesia
Listed by some sources as Fentonia marthesia
Identification
Adult: forewing blackish to grayish-brown from base to AM line; white, gray, brownish, green, or turquoise mottling beyond it (fresh and/or northern specimens seem more likely to contain green); double AM line bends sharply at midpoint; ST line toothed and parallel to outer margin; melanic specimens dark gray with slight whitish mottling
hindwing whitish with gray veins and outer margin
[adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Larva: head large with yellow lateral band, edged inwardly with broad, irregular, reddish-brown band; body somewhat triangular in cross section, pale green flecked with purple spots; yellow dorsal stripe often edged with red; oblique yellow lines run through abdominal spiracles; top of first thoracic segment with 2 small reddish warts; last segment with 2 "tails", proportionately longer in earlier instars
[adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Range
eastern North America (Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba)
Season
adults fly from April to September in the south, June to August in the north
larvae June to October
Food
larvae feed on leaves of beech, maple, oak, and other deciduous trees
Life Cycle
two generations per year in the south, one in the north
Internet References
live adult images plus description, comments on blue/green color, food plants, and flight season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
live adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
live adult images (Bob Patterson, Maryland)
pinned adult images and US distribution map (Paul Opler, Moths of North America; USGS)
larva larva image plus description, food plants, seasonality, and common name reference (David Wagner and Valerie Giles, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests; USGS)
