FAINT-SPOTTED PALTHIS

Palthis asopialis

OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Erebidae)


Description

The Faint-spotted Palthis has a wingspan of about 1 inch.  At rest with the wings folded it has a very swept-back jet fighter appearance.  The forewing is brown overall with a broad, dark brown median band that touches the antemedial line.  The postmedial line is dark and jagged.  There is a sub-apical dark patch.  The hindwing is light brown with a dark terminal band.  It is very similar to the Dark-spotted Palthis which has a different shaped dark median band and a dark spot at the apex of the forewing.  The caterpillar is mottled gray-brown with a low hump over abdominal segment one.  The mature caterpillar is about 1 inch long.



Occurrence

The frequency of occurrence is unknown.  It has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in mid-August and early October.  Adults are attracted to lights.



Comments

The larvae are reported to eat the leaves of alfalfa, beans, bidens, clover, corn, oaks and Spanish needles.  A characteristic of the 2 species in the genus Palthis is the pair of large, tufted labial palps which project forward from the lower part of the head.  These have a sensory function.





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Faint-spotted Palthis

Faint-spotted Palthis

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