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Herpetogramma bipunctalis
AKA... Southern Beet Webworm which is the larva stage. The adult wingspan is about 23 mm. The forewing is light yellowish-brown with two conspicuous black discal spots. The outer spot is larger. The AM line is a shallow S-shaped curve while the PM line is irregular with the convex lobe near it's midpoint. A deep indentation lies near the inner margin. The ST line is sharply-toothed but usually only visible as a dividing line between the light median area and slightly darker shading in terminal area. The hindwing is similarly colored but with only one discal spot and an irregular median line. The adults rest with their forewings spread, revealing much of their hindwings.
Their range runs through New England to Florida, west to Texas, north to Illinois and also occurs south to Central America. The larvae are aquatic while the adults may be flushed from nearby vegetation during the day but are nocturnal and attracted to lights and fly from June to October in the north; possibly all year in the south. The larvae are generalist feeders of several plant families including Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Leguminosae, Rubiaceae, Solanaceae, and others. The larvae may also have potential in the biological control of Alligatorweed, which chokes waterways in the south.
Found under the porch light.
Thank you for the ID, lpwill1. That was excellent work. How ever, I did find out that Southern Beet Webworm is a common name for it but is the actual common name for it's larva stage. So even though you made an excellent call I chose to use it's adult common name but also show it's larva name. Thanks again. ")
Spotted on Oct 25, 2012
Submitted on Oct 25, 2012
