Variable Sallow
Common NameVariable Sallow
Scientific NameLithophane laticinerea
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, black
HabitatDeciduous and mixed forests, woodlands
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba and south to Florida and Texas)
Host Plantsoak, maple, birch, willow, ash, cherry
Flight PeriodSeptember to November (overwinter) and March to April
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with white stripes and feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees. They pupate in the soil, with adults emerging in the fall, overwintering, and laying eggs in the spring.
Identification TipsKey features include the pointed forewings, the mottled reddish-brown to grey-brown coloration, and the characteristic dark, wavy transverse lines and often indistinct reniform/orbicular spots.
Description
A medium-sized moth with pointed forewings, displaying a mottled pattern of reddish-brown and greyish-brown, accented by darker wavy lines and scattered black speckles.
