White-margined Ctenucha Moth
Common NameWhite-margined Ctenucha Moth
Scientific NameCtenucha virginica
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsblack, dark blue, red, white
HabitatMeadows, open fields, moist areas, forest edges, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south to Florida and Texas
Host Plantsgrasses, sedges, dandelion, plantain, clover
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are hairy, black with yellow tufts, and feed on various herbaceous plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a silken cocoon incorporating their hairs.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark, iridescent wings with a white hindwing margin, a bright red head, and a red stripe on the thorax. It is a diurnal moth often mistaken for a butterfly or a wasp.
Description
A medium-sized, day-flying moth with iridescent dark blue-black wings, a bright red head, and a metallic blue-black body with a prominent red stripe on the thorax. The hindwings have a distinct white margin.
