Faint-spotted Palthis

Faint-spotted Palthis

Palthis asopialis
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Erebidae)

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The Faint-spotted Palthis has a wingspan of about 1 inch. At rest with the wings folded it has a very swept-back jet fighter appearance. The forewing is brown overall with a broad, dark brown median band that touches the antemedial line. The postmedial line is dark and jagged. There is a sub-apical dark patch. The hindwing is light brown with a dark terminal band. It is very similar to the Dark-spotted Palthis which has a different shaped dark median band and a dark spot at the apex of the forewing. The caterpillar is mottled gray-brown with a low hump over abdominal segment one. The mature caterpillar is about 1 inch long.

 

The frequency of occurrence is unknown. It has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in mid-August and early October. Adults are attracted to lights.

 

The larvae are reported to eat the leaves of alfalfa, beans, bidens, clover, corn, oaks and Spanish needles. A characteristic of the 2 species in the genus Palthis is the pair of large, tufted labial palps which project forward from the lower part of the head. These have a sensory function.

 

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