Species Americerura scitiscripta - Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942

7942

Cerura scitiscripta Walker 1865

Tecmessa scitiscript (Walker 1865)

3 subspecies are listed in the literature but none of them are currently accepted as valid

wingspan 25-40 mm (1); male much smaller than female

Adult: forewing white with sharp double black lines and small black reniform spot; black streaks also extend along veins; hindwing gray; Florida specimens have reduced black markings and white hindwing (1)

Larva: body lime green with white subspiracular stripe; third thoracic segment humped, bearing white or lavender transverse ridge; anterior of first thoracic segment reddish with dark eyespots to either side; tails (anal prolegs) with extrusible portion yellow, tentaclelike, flailed over body when disturbed [description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]

Quebec and New England to Florida, west to Texas, north to Alberta

deciduous woodlands near rivers and lakes; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from March to October in the south; June and July in the north

larvae from June to September

larvae feed on leaves of cherry, poplar, and willow

one or two generations per year, depending on latitude

larva; larva; adult

species of Furcula have less distinct lines and/or more extensive dark shading in median and subterminal areas of forewing

St Laurent, R. A., Goldstein, P. Z., Miller, J. S., Markee, A., Staude, H. S., Kawahara, A. Y., Miller, S. E., Robbins, R. K. 2023. Phylogenetic systematics, diversification, and biogeography of Cerurinae (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) and a description of a new genus, Insect Systematics and Diversity, 7(2)3, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixad004

Moth Photographers Group (2)

pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus date and foodplants (Larry Line, Maryland)

iNaturalist