hitched arches

Hitched arches is a stout, medium-sized, night-flying, owlet moth. Adults are ¾″ to 13 ⁄16″ long with a wingspan of 1⅛″ to 1 9 ⁄16″.

The forewing is mostly dark powdery gray mottled with black and dark greenish-brown. There is a small white patch in the basal area. In the area between the antemedial line and the median line there is a small, circular, black-rimmed, white spot (orbicular spot) with a dark center. In the area between the median line and the postmedial line there is a large, kidney-shaped, black-rimmed, white spot (reniform spot) with a dark, arching line in the center. The area between the postmedial line and the subterminal line is light gray. On some individuals there is some white mottling around the subterminal line. The outermost line on the forewing, just before the fringe, is white. The fringe is white with black spots that may partially of almost completely obscure the white.

The hindwing is light grayish-brown toward the base, darker near the margin, with a dark terminal line. The fringe is light gray.

The body is darker than the wings. The antennae are slender and thread-like. The legs are black with white spots.

The caterpillar background color may be either light green or light brown. A thin, white line extends down the back (dorsally) from the first thoracic to the eighth abdominal segment. Dark, semicircular lines appear on on the upper (dorsal) surface of abdominal segments 2 through 6. On segments 1, 7, and 8 these markings are conspicuous, dark, semicircular patches. The eighth abdominal segment is humped and has a dark subdorsal patch. The spiracles are white thinly outlined with black. The head has 3 white dorsal lines.

Wingspan: 1⅛″ to 1 9 ⁄16″

Total length: ¾″ to 13 ⁄16″

Moist woods. River and stream banks, woodland edges and openings, old fields, and large gardens.

Two broods: Late May to September

Adults are active at night. They are attracted to light. The wings are folded over the body when at rest.

This moth overwinters as a pupa.

Deciduous trees and low plants in the families Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Grossulariaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Salicaceae, Betulaceae, and Fabaceae.

Sources

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

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 8/11/2025).

Common

Hitched Arches Caterpillar (Noctuidae: Melanchra adjuncta) on Thistle
Carl Barrentine

Hitched Arches Moth (Noctuidae: Melanchra adjuncta) Dorsal View
Carl Barrentine

Hitched Arches Moth (Noctuidae: Melanchra adjuncta) Lateral View
Carl Barrentine

Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar
AtOneAtLast

Location: Pennington Co. Minnesota