Bar Maiden
Common NameBar Maiden
Scientific NameCtenucha virginica
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white, orange, metallic blue-green
HabitatOpen woodlands, meadows, fields, marshes, bogs
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Newfoundland to Florida, west to Manitoba and Texas
Host Plantsdandelion, plantain, sedges, lupine, clover, willow, birch, blueberry
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are hairy, black with red spots, feeding on a wide variety of herbaceous plants and grasses. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a cocoon.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive white patches on the dark forewings, the metallic blue-green head and thorax, and the banded abdomen. It is a day-flying moth, often mistaken for a butterfly or a clearwing moth.
Description
A medium-sized, day-flying moth with dark brown wings featuring prominent white patches, a metallic blue-green head and thorax, and a dark abdomen with orange or yellow bands.
