EXPOSED BIRD-DROPPING MOTH
Tarache aprica
OWLET FAMILY (Noctuidae)
Description
The Exposed Bird-Dropping Moth has a wingspan of 1 5/8 to 2 1/4 inches and, like other bird dropping moths, has a coloration and resting posture that resembles a bird dropping. They are sexually dimorphic. The male is mostly white. The forewing of the male has 2 gray-brown costal patches and gray-brown shading beyond the PM line. The female is mostly dark gray with a large white patch on the side of the head and thorax. The forewing of the female is dark gray except for 2 white costal patches. The hindwings of both sexes are white with a faint brownish subterminal line. The caterpillar is green or brown usually with a round black spot around the spiracle on the first abdominal segment. There is a tan zigzag lateral mid-stripe and a rounded hump over the 8th abdominal segment. The caterpillar grows to 1.25 inches.
Occurrence
The frequency of occurrence is not known. It has been seen once at Camp Brewster in late July. The adults come to artificial lights.
Comments
The host food plant is hollyhock, and probably native mallows. This moth is in the subfamily Acontiinae whose species overwinters as a pupa below the soil surface.
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