Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Small Ranunculus Moth
Hecatera dysodea (Schiffermüller 1775)
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Noctuinae
Identification: A small to medium species with an attractive pattern of dark gray median area and mottled yellow and orange base and terminal areas. The ground color of the forewing is powdery yellow to light green due to a mixture of light yellow and dark gray scales. Bright orange markings are present at the base and as a series of spots representing the subterminal line. The wing base, median area, and margin opposite the cell and in the fold are darker greenish gray. The lines are double with the components abutting the median area strong and the opposite component nearly absent, gray, and filled with light yellow. The basal and antemedial lines are slightly irregular; portions of the antemedial line are black in some specimens. The postmedial line is evenly scalloped between the veins, smoothly convex toward the outer margin around the reniform spot and then perpendicular to the trailing margin. The orbicular and reniform spots are black with partial orange inner components. The orbicular spot is filled with the dark s
Wing Span: 2.4-2.8 cm
Life History:
Flight: June to September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild lettuce (Lactuca spp.)
Adult Food:
Habitat: Disturbed roadside, urban, and agricultural habitats at low elevations east of the Cascades.
Range: An introduced moth that has been reported in Washington, Oregon, and Utah.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Taxonomy Notes: None.

Verified Sightings

Displaying 1 - 24 of 37 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 23, 2017
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Oct 04, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Oct 04, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 26, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Sep 02, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Walla Walla County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 22, 2017
Submitted by: JaredD51
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: Cindymcintosh
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Walla Walla County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 31, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jul 04, 2022
Submitted by: jstruthers
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 13, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Kianandgrandma
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
  Details
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Kianandgrandma
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
  Details
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: NBBAM
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 23, 2021
  Details