GRAY FURCULA

GRAY FURCULA

Furcula cinerea
PROMINENT MOTH FAMILY Notodontidae

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The Gray Furcula moth has a wingspan of approximately 1.25 to 1.50 inches. The forewing is light gray with medium-gray median and subterminal areas. The antemedial, postmedial and terminal lines are a series of black dots. A small amount of yellow or orange is often present on the foreweing and the top of the thorax. The hindwing is light grayish-white with a dark discal spot and terminal line of black dots. The larva has a brown head. There are 2 small barbed horns on the first thoracic segment. The body is green with brown saddle-shaped areas edged in red. The anal prolegs are modified into a pair of long, narrow tail-like projections ringed with brown, green and red, giving the appearance of a forked tail.

 

The frequency of occurrence in our area is not known. It has been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late July 2016 coming to lights. It occurs in all of the United States and southern Canada. Adults fly from May to August.

 

The larvae feed on leaves of birch, poplar and willow. It overwinters as a pupa. There is one generation a year.

 

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