The Brown-shaded Gray Moth is approximately .75 inch long. The wings are whitish-gray with fine black lines and reddish-brown markings. On the forewing there is reddish-brown shading on the upper side of the antemedial line and the lower side of the postmedial line. The hindwing has elliptical hollow discal spots touching the postmedial line. On the very similar Bent-line Gray Moth there is heavier dark coloration on the forewing near the apex between the postmedial line and the fringe. The caterpillar grows to approximately 1 inch. It is a twig mimic and varies in coloration from brown to green.
The frequency of occurrence of this moth in our area is not known. It has been photographed once at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in early August 2016. It occurs in the eastern U.S. from Pennsylvania south to Florida and Texas west to Iowa and Nebraska.
The larvae eat the leaves of oaks, poplars, sweet cherry and willows.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.