The Common Lytrosis has a wingspan of 1.75 to 2.25 inches. The wings are pale gray and are scalloped on the edges. The male is heavily shaded and streaked with brown and black beyond the median line of the forewing and on the entire hindwing. The female is larger and more uniform ash gray with some brown toward the outer margin. The larva is a twig mimic and is pale gray with some small black spots. It grows to 2 inches in length when mature.
The frequency of occurrence in our area is not known. It has been photographed once at Neale Woods in late June (photo A) and once at Fontenelle Forest in mid June, 2015 (photo B).
The larval food is hawthorn, oak, maple, serviceberry, viburnum and other woody plants. Like other twig mimics the caterpillar has a silk thread it attaches to a stem. Presumably, it serves as a support while it eats and as a safety line if the caterpillar drops from its food plant. This species overwinters as a pupa.
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