Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#558322
Noctuidae (Silene) - Hadena ectypa

Noctuidae (Silene) - Hadena ectypa
Brushy Creek Recreation Area, Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa, USA
July 30, 2011
As per the new Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern NA book, page 500, this is Hadena ectypa, Campion Coronet. This is good to know because one larva died and I don't yet know if the other one will make it. (It did.)

Lep larva feeding on the fruits of Starry campion, Silene stellata. Found by L Crim. (Although M Hayne found the first one.)
HOSTS database lists Hadena ectypa as feeding on this plant.

In 2005 I worked for Iowa DNR Prairie Seed Harvest. In an effort to diversify our production prairie plants I tried to collect seeds of this plant but never found a single seed, all fruits and seeds were gone, assumed eaten. So it was with delight when Moni Hayne found a first larva feeding and Lloyd Crim found a second larva feeding.
BugGuide gathering_2011

Images of this individual: tag all
Noctuidae (Silene) - Hadena ectypa Lep larvae, lateral - Hadena ectypa plant plus larva - Hadena ectypa plant plus larva - Hadena ectypa Noctuidae (Silene), pupa - Hadena ectypa Noctuidae (feeding on Silene) - Hadena ectypa Noctuidae (Silene) - Hadena ectypa

Moved

Moved
Moved from Moths.

Hmmm. . .
Such kind of devastation is usually caused by introduced invasive species. There are many Hadena species that feed on Silene in the Old World. Let us keep an eye on this one. Of course, I am just guessing.
The Silene Hadena interaction seems to be an interesting one, with the moth being both a pollinator and feeder of the plant.

 
Very cool
about the pollinator and feeder. Thanks so much for the information.