Linden Looper (Erannis tiliaria - 6665)

Linden Looper (Erannis tiliaria - 6665)

One of the few moth species I've been seeing on recent cool fall evenings.  Some evenings these fall and winter moths were abundant, with a dozen or more around our porch light.  All the Linden Loopers one normally sees are males.  Females are wingless.

From BugGuide: 

Range:  Alberta to Nova Scotia, south to Missouri, Georgia, Utah and Texas.

Food:  Hosts include basswood, apple, ash, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak, poplar, Prunus and Ribes.

Photo of female.

Photo of caterpillar.

Linden Looper (Erannis tiliaria - 6665)

Black-barred Brown Moth (Plagiomimicus pityochromus - 9754)

Black-barred Brown (Plagiomimicus pityochromus - 9754)

From BugGuide:

Range: Eastern United States and southern Ontario.

Season: Adults fly from July to September.

Food: Larvae feed on Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida).


See also: Moth Photographers Group

Black-barred Brown Moth (Plagiomimicus pityochromus - 9754)

Goldenrod Flower Moth (Schinia nundina - 11177)

Goldenrod Flower Moth (Schinia nundina - 11177)

From BugGuide:

Range: Found east of a line from Arizona to Minnesota and Nova Scotia.

Season: Most records are July through October.


See also: Moth Photographers Group

Goldenrod Flower Moth (Schinia nundina - 11177)

Filigreed Chimoptesis (Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana - 3273)

Filigreed Chimoptesis
(Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana - 3273)

Identification: Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with white tri-lobed strip along inner margin, sometimes tinted with green; black V-shaped mark at anal angle; several small white spots along costa; hindwing gray with dark double terminal line and wide fringe.

Range: Pennsylvania and Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas and at least Indiana.

Season: Adults fly in March and April in the northeast; perhaps earlier and later in the southeast.

Links:

BugGuide
MPG

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Filigreed Chimoptesis (Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana - 3273)

Chosen Sallow Moth (Psaphida electilis - 10012)

Chosen Sallow Moth
(Psaphida electilis - 10012)

Identification: The coloration of this species shows geographical variation: northern specimens tend to have dark gray forewings with contrasting reddish-brown markings; southern specimens are usually paler gray and less contrasting overall, with little or no brown in the forewings. (Dean Edwards)

Range: Quebec and Ontario to Florida, west to Texas and Wisconsin.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light.

Season: Adults fly in April and May. Larvae present from mid to late spring.

Food: larvae feed on leaves of hickory and walnut.

Life Cycle: One generation per year; eggs are laid on buds of hostplant; overwinters as a pupa in soil, sometimes for more than a single year.


BugGuide
MPG

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Chosen Sallow Moth (Psaphida electilis - 10012)

Ipsilon Dart (Agrotis ipsilon - 10663)

Ipsilon Dart
(Agrotis ipsilon - 10663)

This moth -- like many, actually, -- is not a friend of gardeners. Dart moths are also known as cutworm moths. Likewise, the Ipsilon Dart's larva is also known as a Black or Greasy Cutworm.

Range: Throughout most of North America except the Arctic.

Habitat: Croplands, fields, gardens.

Food: Larvae feed on many cultivated plants (e.g. clover, corn, lettuce, potatoes, tobacco) plus grasses.

This is a female based upon her simple antennae. She is feeding on moth bait.

Links:
BugGuide
Moth Photographers Group
University of Florida Featured Creature

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Ipsilon Dart (Agrotis ipsilon - 10663)

Armyworm Moth (Mythimna unipuncta - 10438)

Armyworm Moth
(Mythimna unipuncta - 10438)

Identification: Forewing tan, often tinged with orange and lightly speckled with black. A couple of more orange spots on each wing is typical. Ditto for a couple of small white dots with a white line passing through them.

Habitat: Common to abundant throughout North American except for the Arctic. Also found in other locations throughout the world.

Food: Larvae are generalist feeders on many species of plants: alfalfa, corn and other grains, grasses, vegetables, many weeds and other wild plants, leaves of fruit trees and ornamentals.

Life Cycle: Two or three generations per year; overwinters as either a pupa or partially-grown larva which pupates in the spring.

Remarks: Moth was photographed on moth bait, a mixture that's mostly brown sugar with enough beer to liquify and a tablespoon of molasses. It supposedly mimics tree sap upon which many moths feed.

To see photos of this moth's complete life cycle including caterpillar, pupa and adult moth, please see Ilona Loser's excellent post on BugGuide.

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Armyworm Moth (Mythimna unipuncta - 10438)

Linden Looper Moth (Erannis tiliaria - 6665)

Linden Looper Moth
Erannis tiliaria - 6665

Typically a "winter moth", and Winter Moth is this species other common name.

Host plants are numerous, including Hosts include basswood, apple, ash, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak, poplar.

This is a male moth; females are wingless.

Source: BugGuide

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Linden Looper Moth (Erannis tiliaria - 6665)

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americanum - 7701)

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Male)
(Malacosoma americanum - 7701)

Range: Eastern and central US to the Rockies and Canada from Nova Scotia to Alberta.

Food: Larvae feed on leaves of many trees and shrubs but particularly members of the rose family such as apple, cherry, and crabapple.

Life Cycle: In the fall, a female lays an eggs mass on a twig where it overwinters. The larvae hatch in the spring. They construct a tent of webbing in which the feed and grow. Eventually, the caterpillars will disburse and pupate. 


(Note:  Photo taken on 6/1/11)

Source: BugGuide

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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americanum - 7701)

Beggar Moth (Eubaphe mendica - 7440)

Beggar Moth
(Eubaphe mendica - 7440)

Flight: May-September; three broods.

Caterpillar Hosts: Maples and violets.

Range: Common throughout eastern North America.

(from BAMONA)

See also:
BugGuide
Moth Photographers Group

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Beggar Moth (Eubaphe mendica - 7440)

Large Tolype Moth (Tolype velleda – 7670)

Large Tolype Moth

Tolype velleda – 7670

Range: Nova Scotia to central Florida, west to Texas, north to Ontario.

Life cycle: Only one generation per year. Usually a late summer or fall species.

Food: Larvae feed on leaves of a variety of broadleaf trees and shrubs.

Links:
BugGuide
Moth Photographers Group
BAMONA

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Large Tolype Moth (Tolype velleda – 7670)

Moth (Epipagis huronalis - 5147)

Identification: The antemedial (AM) line of the hindwing is broken and does not extend all the way across the wing.

Range: North Carolina to Florida to Texas.

5148 - Epipagis disparilis which has a heavy and continuous antemedial line on the hind wing.

Links:
BugGuide
MPG
BAMONA

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Moth (Epipagis huronalis - 5147)

Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth (Lycomorpha pholus - #8087)

Range: Nova Scotia to North Carolina, west to South Dakota and Texas.

Life History: A day-flier, often seen on flowers such as goldenrod. May take several years to develop, especially in the north. Hairy cocoons are attached to rocks or tree trunks near the former food source.

Flight: July-September.

Caterpillar Hosts: Lichens.

Resource Links:
BugGuide
MPG
BAMONA

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Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth (Lycomorpha pholus - #8087)

Baltimore Bomolocha Moth (Hypena baltimoralis)

Baltimore Bomolocha Moth (Hypena baltimoralis) 

(Species information from BugGuide.)

AKA: Baltimore Hypena


Range: Eastern North America -- Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Arkansas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario.


Habitat: Deciduous forests or edges; adults are nocturnal and come to light.


Food: Larvae feed on maples.


Comments: Flies from March through October, depending upon location. Two generations in the north; two or more in the south.


Remarks: This moth decided to join me in my basement shop while I was working on some spoons.

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Baltimore Bomolocha Moth (Hypena baltimoralis)

Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa)

Adult Tersa Sphinx moths have a pointed abdomen (though this one is a little bent) and contrasting black markings on hindwings.

Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa)

One of my favorite moths because they look so streamlined and sleek.


Range:  Massachusetts south to south Florida; west to Nebraska, New Mexico, and southern Arizona; south through Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America to Argentina. 

Food:  Adults take nectar from deep-throated  flowers.  They begin feeding around sunset.  I often see them feeding in our Datura right after the blooms have opened in the evening.

Caterpillar host plants include smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Catalpa, and Manettia species.

Tersa Sphinx caterpillars occur in both green and brown forms.  This is a fairly early instar and only about 3/4" long.

.Tersa Sphinx caterpillars have one large eyespot  and six smaller eyespots in a line down their sides.  In earlier instars, smaller eyespots are barely visible and striping more pronounced.

Sources:  

BugGuide Species Page

Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa)

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

A widespread moth found throughout most of North America, Central America, West Indies, also parts of Eurasia, Africa.  Adults take nectar.  Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants.

Butterflies and Moths of North America
BugGuide

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White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

Arkansas Moth: Painted Lichen (Hypoprepia fucosa)

Painted Lichen (Hypoprepia fucosa)

(Photo:  Marvin Smith on 6/2/09)

Painted Lichen Moth

(Hypoprepia fucosa)

Range: United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies.

Habitat: Wooded areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light.

Season: Adults fly from May to August in the north; perhaps most of the year in Florida.

Food: Larvae feed on lichen, algae, and moss on trees.

Life Cycle: overwinters as a larva.

Species information from BugGuide Species Page.

Other Links:

MPG Species Page
Moths of North Dakota
John Himmelman

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Arkansas Moth: Painted Lichen (Hypoprepia fucosa)

Arkansas Moth: Rosy Maple (Dryocampa rubicunda)

Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)

(Photo:  Marvin Smith on 5/30/09)

Rosy Maple Moth
(Dryocampa rubicunda)

Were there a prize given for the most widespread, numerous and eye-catching moth, the Rosy Maple would probably win. Bob Patterson on MPG says this species has been the number one generator of ID requests, from southeastern Canada to Florida.

Hodges Number: 7715

Other common names: Green-striped Mapleworm (caterpillar)

Range: Eastern North America, including most of Florida.

Habitat: Deciduous forests.

Season: May-August in north (one brood), April-September in south (2-3 broods).

Food: Adults do not feed. Hostplants for larvae are maples, Acer, or oaks, Quercus.

Life cycle: Eggs are laid in clusters of 10-30 on foliage. Early instars are gregarious. Overwinters as pupa, below ground. Adults come to lights readily.

Caterpillars: Occasionally, D. rubicunda larvae can become serious defoliators. The caterpillar is usually most important as a pest on shade and ornamental landscape maples. Damage from loss of foliage is largely aesthetic; trees usually survive and recover, but some loss in growth and dieback in the crown may occur. (Please see Auburn University site for more information and photos.)

Species information from BugGuide.

Other links:
Moths of North America
MIACY

Please visit Xenogere for the latest edition of The Moth and Me Blog Carnival, and check out Jason's fantastic images of a wingless female moth.

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Arkansas Moth: Rosy Maple (Dryocampa rubicunda)

Arkansas Moth: Angle-lined Prominent (Clostera inclusa)

Angle-lined Prominent Moth (Clostera inclusa)

(Photo:  Marvin Smith on 3/30/09)

Angle-lined Prominent Moth 

(Clostera inclusa)

Other common name: Many-lined Angle, Poplar Tentmaker

Hodges: #7896

Range: Throughout eastern North America.

Season: March-September.

Food: Larvae feed on aspen, willows, poplars.


Species information from BugGuide.

Other information and photos:

MIACY
MPG


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Arkansas Moth: Angle-lined Prominent (Clostera inclusa)

Moth Identification

Four May Moths

(Photo:  Marvin Smith on 5/30/09)

Can you find the moth that's a different species?

Three Juniper-twig Geometers (Patalene olyzonaria)

One Brown Scoopwing Moth (Calledapteryx dryopterata)

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Moth Identification