Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Erastria coloraria (Fabricius, 1798)
* phylogenetic sequence #197950
original combination Phalaena coloraria Fabricius, 1798
also resided in Catopyrrha
Identification
Adults - medium brown (spring) to yellow-brown (summer) above with diffuse but obvious lines on the forewings; yellow and pink beneath; males with pectinate (comb-like) antennae
Larvae - a series of diffuse and speckled medium, dark, and light bands of grey; pictured by Schweitzer, Minno, Wagner (2011)
(1)Range
uncertain. Historically known from New Hampshire, west Connecticut to northern Florida, west to Minnesota, Iowa, west Missouri and adjacent Kansas, Colorado. Believed to be expatriated from New England
(1)Habitat
wherever New Jersey tea is found. Specifically, pitch pine barrens and grassy openings in old quarries and powerline right of ways of the Northeast; shale barrens in Appalachia; sand hills and river terraces in North Carolina; long leaf pine/wiregrass savanna in Florida; pine and oak barrens in Wisconsin
(1)Season
multivoltine, adults emerge late April or May and mid-June through mid-July
(1)Food
larvae feed on New Jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus and
Ceanothus herbaceus (1)Remarks
diurnal. Adults attracted to baits and lights.
rare and threatened (Natureserve rank G3/G4) by growing deer populations that overbrowse the host plant and other factors
(1)Print References
Hodges, Ronald W. (ed.) 1983. Check List of the Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico.
(2)Internet References
Moth Photograpers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
Moth Photographers Group - photo of pinned
Erastria coloraria and related species.
Moths of Canada - photo of pinned adult and related species.
