Yellow Spragueia Moth
Common NameYellow Spragueia Moth
Scientific NameSpragueia dama
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyAcontiinae
Wingspan (mm)15
Primary Colorswhite, grey, brown, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America
Host Plantssmartweed (Polygonum spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLike most moths, it undergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Larvae are typically cryptic and feed on herbaceous plants.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of the reddish-brown head/thorax, the pale speckled forewings, and the distinctive reddish-brown basal patch and dark apical patch on the forewings.
Description
A small moth with a reddish-brown head and thorax. Its forewings are predominantly pale greyish-white with fine dark speckling, featuring a distinct reddish-brown patch at the base and a prominent blackish patch at the apex.
