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Species Baileya ophthalmica - Eyed Baileya - Hodges#8970

Eyed Baileya - Baileya ophthalmica Moth - Baileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya Moth - Baileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya - Baileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya - Hodges #8970 - Baileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya Moth - Baileya ophthalmica Kentucky moth - Baileya ophthalmica Moth sp. 3 - Baileya ophthalmica
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
Subfamily Risobinae
Genus Baileya
Species ophthalmica (Eyed Baileya - Hodges#8970)
Hodges Number
8970
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
specific epithet sometimes misspelled "opthalmica"
described in 1852 by Guenee, who originally placed it in genus Leptina
Explanation of Names
From Greek ophthalmikos (οφθαλμικος)- "of eyes"
Size
Wingspan 23-32 mm
Identification
Tan/white patch on forewing forms a large central patch when wings folded. Large eyespots on forewings.
Macro shot showing that the distinctive buffy patch on the male is composed of dimensional scales on head, neck, thorax and wing - John Lampkin
Range
Eastern North America: Nova Scotia to Florida, east to at least Louisiana and Oklahoma, north to Alberta
Habitat
Deciduous forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from late April to July
Food
larvae feed on leaves of beech (Fagus spp.), hornbeam (Carpinus spp.), and Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Life Cycle
Larva; pupal shelter; pupa; adult
Remarks
Said to be a bird-dropping mimic.
Print References
Covell, p. 152, plate 31 #23 (1)
Internet References
pinned adult image and larval foodplant (Gerald Fauske, North Dakota State U.)
distribution in Canada; list of provinces of occurrence (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
Key to Baileya species; PDF doc (Vernon Brou, courtesy Yale U.)
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.