FRINGE-TREE SALLOW

FRINGE-TREE SALLOW

Sympistis chionanthi
OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Noctuidae)


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The mature caterpillar is about 1 3/8 inches long. It is brown with tan and black markings. The head is red. A distinctive tan mark behind the head stretches over the thorax and has 2 short black marks on both sides. There is a thick black subdorsal line on the abdomen. The adult moth is gray with black markings and gray orbicular and reniform spots outlined with white.

 

This species is considered to be uncommon. The caterpillar shown here was found during a Bioblitz at Camp Brewster, Fontenelle Forest in late April.

 

The larval foodplants are ash and fringe-tree, both in the Olive family (Oleaceae). The longterm survival of this species may be threatened by the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America by Wagner, Schweitzer, Sullivan & Reardon). The Emerald Ash Borer is moving westward, but has not reached Nebraska at this time.

 

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