Red-headed Inchworm Moth
Common NameRed-headed Inchworm Moth
Scientific NameLobocleta ossularia
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorspale grey, tan, brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, disturbed areas, gardens
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Texas and Manitoba
Host Plantsclover, dandelion, various herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are 'inchworms' that feed on low-growing herbaceous plants, moving with a characteristic looping motion. Pupation occurs in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive reddish-brown head which contrasts with the pale, mottled wings. The forewings typically have dark brown patches near the apex and along the outer margin, and the moth often rests with wings spread flat.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with pale greyish-tan wings mottled with faint darker lines and distinct dark brown patches along the costa and termen, and a reddish-brown head.
