REDDISH SPECKLED DART
Cerastis tenebrifera
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Noctuidae)
Description
The Reddish Speckled Dart has a wingspan of 1.5 inches. The forewing is reddish-brown faintly mottled with gray. There is an inconspicuous whitish subterminal line. The orbicular and reniform spots are white with gray centers. The hindwing is tan to light gray with darker veins. The caterpillar is variably green, gray, tan, brown or red-brown with a well defined white, gray or reddish spiracular stripe. It grows to 1.5 inches.
Occurrence
The moth shown here was photographed in early April 2015 at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. The frequency of occurrence in this area is not known. Adults fly from March to early June. They are nocturnal and come to lights.
Comments
The larvae feed on Dandelion, Chokecherry, Paper Birch, Willow and probably others. The caterpillars mature in early summer. The species winters as a pupa in a cocoon underground.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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