Gilded Seedcropper
Common NameGilded Seedcropper
Scientific NameAcontia titania
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyAcontiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorspale yellow, golden-brown, brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeEastern North America (southern Canada to Florida, west to Texas)
Host PlantsSida, Abutilon, Hibiscus
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are semi-loopers that feed on plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) and pupate in a cocoon in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the overall pale golden-brown coloration with a slight iridescence on the forewings, combined with the characteristic tufted head and thorax. Faint, often indistinct, darker spots on the forewings are also key features.
Description
A small, stout-bodied moth with pale golden-yellow to light brown forewings, often displaying a subtle metallic sheen and faint, darker brown spots. Its head and thorax are distinctly tufted with golden-brown scales.
