The rich brown and deep purple colors of the Roadside Sallow are a healthy hue for this furry forest moth.
This brown forest dweller has a stout body and light brown wings. Two bubble-shaped reniform spots on each forewing almost touch. Two purple lines cross the wings; one is near the head, the other near the bottom of the wings. Rows of dark brown scalloped lines form a border. The smaller hindwings are gray with a pale pink fringe along the bottom. The Roadside Sallow Moth usually has its wings flat, hiding the hindwings.
The brown mottled brown caterpillar feeds on mountain ash trees as well as apple, crabapple and cherry trees. It could pass for a branch or part of the trunk of the tree.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Noctuidae
Genus:Metaxaglaea
Species:viatica
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Metaxaglaea viatica
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 22mm to 28mm (0.86in to 1.09in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy
1
Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.
3
Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.
5
Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.
6
Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.
NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.
Colors: brown, purple, gray, black
