Diachrysia balluca
| Diachrysia balluca | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diachrysia balluca |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Diachrysia balluca | ||||||||||||
| Geyer , 1832 |
Diachrysia balluca is occurring in North America butterfly ( moth ) from the family of cutworms (Noctuidae).
features
butterfly
With a wingspan of 45 to 55 millimeters, the moths are the largest members of the gold owl subfamily in North America. The upper side of the front wing has a pale gray to light brown basic color, which, depending on the incidence of light, can also have a metallic bronze or greenish shimmer. The large, shiny metallic green field between the inner edge and the cell is typical of the species . A silver or gold colored blemish is missing. The upper side of the hind wing is evenly brown and shows yellow fringes. The thorax is furry and provided with a thick tuft of hair. The abdomen has other smaller tufts of hair.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars are green in color. They taper towards the head. They show a dark green interrupted back line, several thin, interrupted whitish side back lines, a wide white side stripe and on each body segment small warts with short, thin light gray hairs.
Similar species
Due to the very distinctive wing markings, the moths should not be confused with other species .
Distribution and occurrence
Diachrysia balluca is found in southeastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States . The southernmost occurrence area are mountain regions in the Great Smoky Mountains . Individual finds from Florida are considered stray migratory butterflies.
Way of life
The moths fly between June and September. They are nocturnal and visit artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed on the leaves of hops ( Humulus lupulus ), American quivering aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), Canadian shrub nettle ( Laportea canadensis ) and Rubus species.
Individual evidence
- ↑ dissemination
- ^ A b Michael G. Pogue: The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Magnolia Press, Zootaxa 1032: 1-28, 2005, pp. 11/12
Web links
- bugguide - information about the green-patched looper
- mothphotographersgroup - Location data based on data from Mississippi State University
- insecta.pro - Taxonomy at Insecta Pro