arcigera flower moth

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Arcigera flower moth is a small owlet moth.

The forewing of the male is dark brown or maroonish-brown near the base, pale brown in the median area, dark brown or maroonish-brown in the postmedial area, and light brown in the subterminal area. The antemedial line is white, convex, and evenly curved. The postmedial line is white, smooth, and broadly S-shaped. The female forewing is more gray.

The hindwing of the male is yellow in the basal and median areas, black in the postmedial and subterminal areas, with a black, rectangular, discal spot. The hindwing of the female is all black.

Wingspan: ⅞″ to 1″

Total length: ½″

Fields with asters

One generation per year: late July to mid-September

Adults are nocturnal and are attracted to light, but can also be found taking nectar on flowers during the day.

Eggs are laid on the flowers of host species.

Asters, including purple-stem aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum), smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve), and white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides); also Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis).

Flower nectar

Sources

7, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82, 83.

Common

Location: Houston County, MN