SPECTACLED NETTLE MOTH
Abrostola urentis
OWLET MOTHS (Noctuidae)
Description
The Spectacled Nettle Moth has a wingspan of about 1.25 inches. It has 2 raised tufts of scales on the thorax that resemble spectacles. The forewing is brown or gray with thin black Antemedial and Postmedial lines. The large reniform spot and merged orbicular and claviform spots are pale outlined in black. The hindwing is light gray in the basal half with a dark discal crescent and dark gray in the outer half. Fringe is white with several dark spots. The caterpillar is green with a series of white-bordered green chevrons dorsally and a white lateral stripe. The abdominal segment 8 is strongly humped. It grows to about 1.25 inches.
Occurrence
The Spectacled Nettle Moth has been seen and photographed once at Fontenelle Forest at Camp Brewster in mid-September 2015. The main flight period is April to October. Adults are attracted to lights.
Comments
The larvae feed on Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). Other common names for this moth are Variegated Brindle and Small Gray Looper.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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