Flowing-line Hypena

Flowing-line Hypena

Hypena manalis
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Erebidae)

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The Flowing-line Hypena has a wingspan of approximately 1 inch. The forewing is medium brown in the distal and median areas. In the middle of the wing a round-edged dark brown patch outlined with white extends from the costa nearly to the Postmedial line. There is a dark apical dash and a light patch at the apex. The hindwings are uniformly brown. The caterpillar is green with yellow bands on the abdominal segments and small black dots sprinkled over its body. There are 3 larger black dots on abdominal segments 1 – 3. The head is yellow-green. The caterpillar grows to about 1 inch long.

 

The frequency of occurrence in this area is not known. It has been photographed once at Camp Brewster in mid-September 2015 coming to lights and at Neale Woods in June 2016. Its range extends from Ontario and Maine south to Florida and west to Texas. Adults fly from May to September.

 

The larval food plant is False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica). It was formerly named Bomolocha manalis. Another common name was Flowing-line Bomolocha.

 

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