A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Uresiphita reversalis
Larva of Genista Broom Moth found defoliating a False Indigo, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' in perennial border Adult: forewing light to medium brown with dark scalloped AM and PM lines (sometimes broken or indistinct) and two dark discal spots; hindwing yellow or orange with some brownish-gray shading at apex Larva: body brownish-green with raised black dorsolateral spots on each abdominal segment, and white dot at tip of each black spot; sparse long white hairs protrude from dorsolateral spots; head black with white dots
Larvae are found associated with food plants. Larvae feed on Acacia, Baptisia, Genista, Lupinus, Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and other pea family shrubs. Also reported on Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.).
100's of larvae found on a False Indigo plant, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke', Lantern Court, The Holden Arboretum, Lake County, Kirtland, OH
Spotted on Jul 15, 2012
Submitted on Jul 18, 2012
1 Comment
Thank you for this ID. I've been trying to ID ever since I had a bunch defoliate one of my baptisia this summer.