Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574
Anticarsia gemmatalis
This record describes Anticarsia gemmatalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Color highly variable . Wings heavily mottled or mostly unmarked with weak stripe and prominent spots. PM continues across HW, terminating at the apex of FW. Larva : The larvae are extremely variable in coloration and markings throughout the instars. The larvae have a light, dorsal stripe bordered by dark stripes and a broad, white horizontal stripe on each side. They are usually a light green but can be brown or black. They grow to nearly 2 inches and have four pair of abdominal prolegs plus a pair of anal prolegs. They violently wiggle their abdominal prolegs when disturbed
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Eulepidotinae
- Genus
- Anticarsia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Much of North America, but primarily southeastern U.S.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Egg; larva;
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: gemma (Latin for a bud) + talus (Latin for the ankle, heel) The specific name may allude to the tuft of scales on the foreleg visible on this image:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anticarsia gemmatalis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , Hannah Nendick-Mason , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574
What is Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574?
Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574 (Anticarsia gemmatalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574?
Wingspan 33-40 mm
How do you identify Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574?
Adult : Color highly variable . Wings heavily mottled or mostly unmarked with weak stripe and prominent spots. PM continues across HW, terminating at the apex of FW. Larva : The larvae are extremely variable in coloration and markings throughout the instars. The larvae have a light, dorsal stripe bordered by dark stripes and a broad, white horizontal stripe on each side. They are usually a light green but can be brown or black. They grow to nearly 2 inches and have four pair of abdominal prolegs plus a pair of anal prolegs. They violently wiggle their abdominal prolegs when disturbed
Where is Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574 found?
Range: Much of North America, but primarily southeastern U.S.
What is the life cycle of a Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8574?
Egg; larva;