hitched arches

(Melanchra adjuncta)

hitched arches
Photo by Bill Reynolds
  Hodges #

10292

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Hitched arches is a stout, medium-sized, night-flying, owlet moth. Adults are ¾ to 13 16 long with a wingspan of 1 to 19 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.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Wingspan: 1 to 19 16

Total length: ¾ to 13 16

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

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

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Two broods: Late May to September

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

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

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

This moth overwinters as a pupa.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

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

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 71, 75.

 
  8/14/2015      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Noctuidae (cutworm moths and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Noctuinae (cutworms and dart moths)  
 

Tribe

Hadenini  
 

Genus

Melanchra  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Polia adjuncta

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

hitched arches

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Orbicular spot

A circular spot or outline in the upper median area near the antemedial line on the forewing of many moths.

 

Reniform spot

A kidney-shaped spot or outline in the lower median area near the PM line on the forewing of many moths.

 

Spiracle

A small opening on the surface of an insect through which the insect breathes.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Bill Reynolds

 
    hitched arches      
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Hitched Arches Caterpillar (Noctuidae: Melanchra adjuncta) on Thistle
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 9, 2010

Photographed at Itasca State Park, Minnesota (06 August 2010). Want to see more phots of this caterpillar/moth? Go here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/18378/bgimage

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

Uploaded on Aug 22, 2011

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (22 August 2011). Thank you to Bob Patterson (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this speciemn!

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

Uploaded on Aug 13, 2011

Photographed at Fisher, Minnesota (13 August 2011). Thank you to Bob Patterson (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this specimen!

 
  Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar
AtOneAtLast
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 27, 2013

A Hitched Arches moth caterpillar.
Melanchra adjuncta. September 7, 2012.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Bill Reynolds
8/14/2015

Location: Pennington Co. Minnesota

hitched arches  
           
 
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