Florida Tetanolita Moth
Common NameFlorida Tetanolita Moth
Scientific NameTetanolita floridana
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyHypeninae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, dark grey
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, suburban areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina)
Host Plantsoak, maple, various deciduous trees and shrubs
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar) feeding on deciduous plants, pupa, and adult moth. Multiple generations occur throughout the warmer months.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the mottled brown and tan forewings with two distinct dark, wavy transverse lines, and the relatively long, upturned labial palps characteristic of the Hypeninae subfamily.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled brown and tan forewings featuring distinct dark, wavy transverse bands, particularly a prominent one across the middle and a darker terminal area.
