Species Heterophleps triguttaria - Three-spotted Fillip - Hodges#7647

7647

Heterophleps triguttaria Herrich-Schäffer, [1854]

Corycia hexaspilata Walker, 1866

Stegania quadrinotata Walker, 1863

Phylogenetic Sequence # 910488

Wingspan averages 18-24 mm. (1)

Forewing whitish to pale yellowish-brown with three dark brown triangular spots evenly spaced along the costa.

North Carolina to Colorado, north to Ontario and Quebec.

Mesic woodlands and forests (2)

The main flight period is April to September.

Larvae feed on clearweed (Pilea sp.). Reports from maple may be in error. Wagner et al (2001) write: "We attempted to rear a clutch of eggs on red and sugar maple — all the caterpillars died without feeding. The site where we discovered the figured individual has yielded more than three dozen caterpillars on clearweed." (2)

The Three-patched Bigwing (Heterophleps refusaria) is larger and has faint "connect-the-dots" antemedian (AM) and postmedian (PM) lines crossing the fore-wings and also may have a faint dark-blotch near the center of the fore-wings.

In the Hydriomenini tribe, check out Perizoma costiguttata.

In the Ennominae subfamily, check out the Four-spotted Macaria - Macaria coortaria.

♂ ♀

In the Erebidae family, check out the Lettered Zanclognatha - Zanclognatha lituralis.

♂ ♀

Herrich-Schäffer, [1854]. Samml. Aussereurop. Schmett. (I)1: pl. 41, fig. 202.

Moth Photographers Group

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) (1)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (3)