Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
see
genus page for discussion on
Zanclognatha vs.
Polypogon classification
Identification
Adult: FW pale tan (spring brood ) to dark brown (summer brood) • AM dark brown, suffused, sharply kinked near costa • PM with small notch in large bulge • ST is straight from costa to inner margin, continuing on the HW • Terminal line is a series of brown dots
Larvae: See "Preliminary key to Zanclognatha larvae"
(2) Season
April-July, two broods southward.
Life Cycle
Eggs have been reported on beech leaves, caterpillars probably drop later to feed on dead leaves. Larvae reported to feed on conifer needles, but probably feed mostly on dead leaves.
See Also
Zanclognatha obscuripennis consistently has a yellow st line that is not edged on either side with a dark line, like
this, while
Zanclognatha cruralis has the yellow st line edged along the inner margin with a dark line, like
this.
Print References
Covell, p. 324, plate 41 #22
(3)
Wagner,
Caterpillars of Eastern North America, p. 345--photo of adult (specimen) and caterpillar
(4)
Grote, A.R., 1872. Descriptions of North American Noctuidae, No. 2. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 4:
97.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live and pinned adults
BOLD Systems - images of pinned DNA supported specimens