Species Caradrina morpheus - Mottled Rustic - Hodges#9653

9653

wingspan 32-38 mm

larvae length to 33 mm

Adult: forewing light to medium brown with dark brown orbicular spot, reniform spot, and broad subterminal band; faint reddish-orange streak running through orbicular and reniform spots is distinctive; brown-on-brown forewing color is unusual in noctuid moths; hindwing dirty white with fine dark terminal line and dark discal spot

Larva: head small, black; body almost hairless, pale yellowish with light brown dorsal band across each abdominal segment; spiracles black, connected by thin dark lateral line

genitalia

a Eurasian species accidentally introduced to both coasts of North America; currently occurs in NB, QC, ON in the east, and AB, BC, OR, WA in the west

occurs throughout Eurasia from Scandinavia and the UK to Siberia and Korea

woodlands, bogs, suburban yards; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from May to August; peak numbers in July

larvae from August to November

larvae feed on a variety of low-growing plants, especially Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), nettle (Urtica spp.), and Prostrate Knotweed (Polygonum aviculare)

overwinters as a mature larva in an earthen cocoon within which it pupates in early spring; usually one generation per year, sometimes two

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Pacific Northwest Moths