Dead-wood Borer

Dead-wood Borer

Scolecocampa liburna
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Erebidae)

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The Dead-wood Borer has a wing span of about 1.75 inches. The straw-colored forewing has fragmented antemedial and postmedial lines that are reduced to rows of brown dots. The tiny basal and orbicular spots are black. The hollow reniform spot is outlined in black. The dotted subterminal line has a dusky blotch near the midpoint. The hindwing is dark gray. The white larva grows to about 1.75 inches. It is smooth and shiny with a few scattered hairs. Each segment has 12 small black dots. The head is black

 

The frequency of occurrence is not known. The adult was photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center on July 23, 2013 coming to artificial lights. The caterpillar was photographed at Camp Brewster, Fontenelle Forest during a Bioblitz in late April 2012.

 

The larva tunnels under loose bark of fallen branches and trunks of deciduous trees. It may feed on fungi.

 

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