The color and pattern variation on the Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth is prodigious considering they all look the same when they are caterpillars.
As its name suggests, the caterpillar of this moth is covered in speckles, white ones in fact. The rest of the body is green, and its head looks like it is made of jade. A prominent white line runs the length of the caterpillar's 'spine'. Each side also has white lines from head to rear. The leaves of a variety of woody plants and trees are tasty meals for the Speckled Green Fruitworm. They are often found on apple, cherry, crabapple, and plums trees. They also use elm, hickory, poplar, spruce, and willow trees. This species is often parasitized, becoming an important food source themselves.
Adult moths are mainly brown. One variation is quite plain with a furry pale thorax. Others may be golden brown or dark brown with dark speckles all over and have two large spots on each forewing. The upper spot is round, and the lower spot is more oblong is shape, like a bean, and has a dark spot inside it. The space between these two spots is generally a darker brown than the surrounding area. Many have a single black spot on each wing near the hairy thorax. A thin white line near the bottom of the wings may or may not be visible, or it may look broken. These moths are commonly found on the eastern part of the continent in all their different forms. They are most active as adults in spring. Caterpillars hatch and gorge on leaves, moving underground by early summer and stay in the pupal stage there until the next year.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Noctuidae
Genus:Orthosia
Species:hibisci
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Orthosia hibisci
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 20mm to 23mm (0.78in to 0.90in)
Colors: brown, purple, black
Descriptors: freckles, two spots, bean-shaped, speckles, flying, shimmer
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, black
