CLOVER HAYWORM

CLOVER HAYWORM

Hypsopygia costalis
PYRALID MOTH FAMILY (Pyralidae)

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The Clover Hayworm moth has a wingspan of about .75 inch. The wings are a red-wine color with a yellow outer margin and a wide yellow fringe. Occasionally, the wings are grayish in some individuals. On the forewing the antemedian and postmedian lines are yellow and inconspicuous. The forewing costa is marked with large, irregular-shaped yellow patches. The very similar Yellow-fringed Dolichomia (Hypsopygia olinalis) has more triangular-shaped yellow spots on the costa and the antemedian and postmedian lines are more prominent having both yellow and black lines.

 

The frequency of occurrence in this area is not known. It has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in mid-August 2015. It seems to be much less common than the often seen very similar Yellow-fringed Dolichomia. Adults fly from May to September.

 

The larvae eat dried plant material including dried flowers, straw, spices and stored hay. They cover the plant material with silk.

 

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