Hollow-spotted Plagodis Moth (Plagodis alcoolaria)

                                                                                                       (Photo taken on 4/18/09 by Marvin)

Hollow-spotted Plagodis Moth (Plagodis alcoolaria)

BugGuide Species Page:
Range - Eastern and central North America
Life Cycle - Larvae feed on deciduous trees (basswood, beech, maples, oaks)

Moths of Maryland:
Excellent photos of variability in this species.

University of Alberta Entomology Collection:
Adults come to light, and may also be active during the day ... Pupae overwinter ... Larvae are twig mimics.

Moth Photographers Group

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Hollow-spotted Plagodis Moth (Plagodis alcoolaria)

Warm-chevroned Moth (Tortricidia testacea)

Warm-chevroned Moth - Hodges#4652 (Tortricidia testacea)

University of Alberta: The caterpillars are short-legged and slug-like, and give the family their name, the slug-caterpillar moths. They are solitary defoliators of deciduous trees.

BugGuide Species Page: Range: Nova Scotia west and south to Manitoba, Missouri, Mississippi. (Obviously, they can range as far south as northern Arkansas.)

Moth Photographers Group: Another common name: Early Button Slug Moth.

Moths of Maryland: Larva feed on beeches, birches, black cherry, chestnut, oaks, and witch hazel.

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Warm-chevroned Moth (Tortricidia testacea)

Bi-Color Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

(Photo: 3/27/09 by Marvin)

Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bird's Foot Violet is a very common wildflower in the Ozark Mountains. It's preference for rocky and dry woodlands means it finds much of the Ozarks ideal habitat. Bi-color bird's foot violets are less common than solid colored, but one still sees many of them. The cluster pictured above was growing at the top of the first hill along our road out -- about the same place where the census taker abandoned her car and decided to walk the rest of the way down to our place -- definitely rocky.

According to Wildflowers of Missouri:

Flowering - April - June and sometimes again in late fall.
Habitat - Rocky or dry open woods, slopes, ridges, prairies, glades, roadsides.
Origin - Native to U.S.
Other info. - This is a striking and easily identifiable species. The flowers are very large and the leaves are finely divided and are similar to a birds foot. The common name for the plant is "Bird's Foot Violet".

Other Sources and Information:
Discover Life
Missouri Botanical Gardens

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Bi-Color Bird's Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

                                                                                                          (Photo taken on 04/04/09 by Jo)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

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Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)