Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Wanton Pinion
Lithophane petulca (Grote, 1874)


Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Noctuinae
Identification: Forewing grayish brown with violet to gray shading along basal half of costa. Two forms--in shaded form, lower 2/3 of forewing is darker brown with pale tan along costa; orbicular and reniform spots also pale tan. Unshaded form has reddish brown in median and terminal areas, with a faint dark brown median bar. Am. and median lines zigzagged; pm. line a series of tiny black dots. Hindwing dark grayish brown with pale fringe in both forms.
Wing Span: 3.5-4.2 cm.
Life History:
Flight: September to November, February to May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Birches and other trees.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Nova Scotia and New Jersey Pine Barrens; west across Canada, south to southern Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: NULL
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