Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1873 by Packard, who originally placed it in genus Lobophora
Explanation of Names
At
Words by William Whitaker, "viridata" translates to "become green". This is most certainly referring to the wing coloration.
Identification
Adult: forewing a mix of brownish-gray and yellowish-green shading with broken transverse lines and many black longitudinal dashes along veins; hindwing light brownish-gray with faint median line and discal dot but appearing virtually unmarked from a distance; abdomen lacks blackish band near base
Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia and adjacent northern states, south in the east to Florida, and south in the west to Colorado and Oregon
Habitat
mature deciduous and mixed woodland; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from April to July
Food
larvae feed on flowerheads of
Possumhaw (
Viburnum nudum [=cassinoides]) [Handfield, p. 256]
See Also
Green Pug (
Pasiphila rectangulata) forewing has several dark wiggly continuous (not broken) lines crossing it; the hindwing has the same color and pattern as the forewing, and the abdomen has a broad blackish band near the base (lacking in
Acasis viridata); compare images of both species
at CBIF and
at MPG Print References
Handfield, Louis. 1999. Les Guide Des Papillons Du Quebec. 662 pp. Broquet.
Covell, Charles. 2005.
(1), p. 388
Internet References
pinned adult image by G.G. Anweiler, plus common name reference, habitat, description, larval foodplant, distribution (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
live adult image plus description, larval foodplants, flight season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
presence in Florida; list (John Heppner, Florida State Collection of Arthopods)
presence in Colorado; list (Paul Opler, Moths of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado; USGS)
presence in Oregon; list citing 23 specimens in collection (Oregon State U.)
distribution in Canada; list of provinces of occurrence (CBIF)
Contributed by
Tony DiTerlizzi on 15 February, 2007 - 9:13am
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 26 July, 2008 - 3:55pm