ASHEN PINION
Lithophane antennata
OWLET MOTHS Noctuidae
Description
The Ashen Pinion moth has a wingspan of 1 1/2 to 1 5/8 inches. The forewing is pale gray with thin inconspicuous black lines and a basal black dash. The area between the dash and the costa is ashy gray. The obicular spot is double with pale gray filling. The reniform spot is filled with reddish-brown. The hindwing is grayish brown with a slightly dark discal spot and median line. The caterpillar is green with a broad, creamy-white spiracular stripe. The part of the stripe on the first segment of the thorax (T1) is not as broad. The spiracles are relatively unmarked. The head is pale green and shiny. The white subdorsal stripe is thin and broken into small spots.
Occurrence
The adult moths overwinter and appear early in spring. They are probably fairly common at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. The moth has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center on April 6, 2013. The adults are attracted to artificial lights.
Comments
The larvae eat the leaves of many woody plants and trees including ash, cherry, elm, hickory, oak, plum and willow. The larvae have also been reported to eat other caterpillars and sawfly larvae.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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