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

7942

3 subspecies listed

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 (compare images of several species at CBIF)

Moth Photographers Group (2)

4 pinned adult images showing two small males and two large females (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)

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

pinned adult images by Jim Vargo, showing dark and light forms (Moth Photographers Group)

live larva image plus description, foodplants, seasonality, life cycle (David Wagner and Valeria Giles, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests, USGS)

live larva image (M.C. Thomas, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)

live larva images by Lacy Hyche (insectimages.org)

US distribution map (butterfliesandmoths.org)

distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)