Dogwood Thyatirid

Description:

Commonly mistaken for a member of the family Noctuidae or the family Notodontidae, the Dogwood Thyatirid, Euthyatira pudens is actually a member of Depranidae, which consists of Hooktip Moths, Drepaninae, and False Owlet Moths, Thyatirinae. The common name for Thyatirinae makes sense, as the term Owlet Moth is a common name for moths in the family Noctuidae. Euthyatira pudens is a lovely moth which is mainly gray on the forewings with three white oval shaped markings on the outer edge. The top white oval marking has a brown dot on it. The thoracic segment is a light chestnut color, and on the bottom inside of the forewings is a light brown oval marking. The eyes are a gorgeous green. There is a black do on the upper part of the body, and the hindwings are a coppery gray. Some of the patterns remind me of toasted coconut or toasted marshmallow.

Habitat:

Larvae feed on Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and sometimes species of Oak (Quercus sp.). This one was found in the morning at a light I'd left on.

Notes:

Lifer!! :-D I was very surprised to see this one! I spent hours looking for an ID under Noctuidae and Notodontidae to no avail. I flipped through my field guide quickly, looking for something similar, and there it was!