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Species Saucrobotys futilalis - Dogbane Saucrobotys - Hodges#4936

Representative Images

Orange Larvae - Saucrobotys futilalis On dogbane, again. Pupa, 9/4/13 - Saucrobotys futilalis Dogbane Moth, larvae, feeding damage - Saucrobotys futilalis Sawfly larva? - Saucrobotys futilalis Caterpillar - Saucrobotys futilalis Saucrobotys futilalis Crambidae, Dogbane Saucrobotys, herbivory - Saucrobotys futilalis Dogbane Saucrobotys - Hodges#4936 - Saucrobotys futilalis
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 Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Subfamily Pyraustinae
Tribe Pyraustini
Genus Saucrobotys
Species futilalis (Dogbane Saucrobotys - Hodges#4936)

Hodges Number

4936

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Saucrobotys futilalis (Lederer, 1863)

Explanation of Names

Species name futilalis appears to be from Latin futilis, brittle, vain, worthless (Latin dictionary) plus -alis Latin "pertaining to" (1).

Size

forewing length 14 - 16 mm (2)

Identification

Adults - obscurely patterned, powdery tan to orange having faint paler pattern (2)

Range

from Northeast to British Columbia and south to Texas and California (2)

Season

May-July, August (Maryland)

Food

Apocynum

Life Cycle

Caterpillar feeds on dogbane, Apocynum species, including Apocynum cannabinum (Indian Hemp), and on milkweeds, Asclepias species, including butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa (Maryland Moths). Larvae make conspicuous silk nests on their host plant.

Life Cycle
1. early instar caterpillars. 2. caterpillars and webbing. 3. last instar caterpillar. 4. prepupa inside cocoon. 5. prepupa. 6. pupa. 7, 8. adults

PDF of life cycle by MJ Hatfield

Print References

Lederer, 1863 b: 372, pl. 10 fig. 1 (3)

Works Cited

1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.
2.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
3.Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Pyralidinen
Lederer, J. 1863. Wiener Entomologische Monatschrift 7(8, 10–12): 243–280, 331–504, pls 2–18.
4.North American Moth Photographers Group
5.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems