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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Exposed Bird-dropping Moth
Tarache aprica (Hübner, [1808])
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Acontiinae
Identification: Body and wings white. Forewing of male has two blackish costal patches. The outer one merges with general blackish shading beyond pm. line, leaving white patch near apex. Forewing of female blackish except for two white costal patches and some white at base and outer margin. Black orbicular dot usually prominent in both sexes. More grayish brown shading at outer margin of hindwing in female than in male.
Wing Span: 1.5-2.9 cm.
Life History: Can be flushed from plants during the day.
Flight: May-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Hollyhocks.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Quebec and Ontario to Florida, west to Kansas and Texas.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: NULL
Taxonomy Notes: formerly in the genus Acontia
Alternate Scientific Names:
Acontia aprica
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 128 verified sightings

Observation date: Aug 13, 2018
Submitted by: meadowglenfarm
Region: Scott County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 15, 2018

Observation date: Aug 27, 2017
Submitted by: Theenglishking
Region: Banks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 04, 2017

Observation date: Sep 01, 2017
Submitted by: Andy Wyatt
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 19, 2017

Observation date: Aug 25, 2017
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 25, 2017

Observation date: May 27, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Anderson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Jul 02, 2017

Observation date: May 02, 2017
Submitted by: fragglecat
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 05, 2017

Observation date: Apr 24, 2017
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2017

Observation date: May 22, 2017
Submitted by: ddodd
Region: Autauga County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: ddodd
Verified date: May 25, 2017

Observation date: May 04, 2017
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 06, 2017

Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: drkilmer
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 10, 2016

Observation date: Aug 17, 2016
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Nov 02, 2016

Observation date: Jul 22, 2016
Submitted by: drkilmer
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 16, 2016

Observation date: Aug 30, 2016
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Hardin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Oct 14, 2016

Observation date: Sep 12, 2016
Submitted by: TCat7187
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2016

Observation date: Aug 25, 2016
Submitted by: digginflowers
Region: Kent County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2016

Observation date: Jul 20, 2016
Submitted by: johnmiller
Region: Bradley County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: KyhlAustin
Verified date: Aug 22, 2016

Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: drkilmer
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2016

Observation date: May 10, 2016
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2016

Observation date: Sep 01, 2015
Submitted by: ddodd
Region: Marshall County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: ddodd
Verified date: Jun 13, 2016

Observation date: May 25, 2016
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Jackson County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 25, 2016

Observation date: May 15, 2013
Submitted by: Mike Dillon
Region: Texas, Marion County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 28, 2016

Observation date: Jun 28, 2015
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Karen and Gary Campbell)
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 11, 2016

Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: AllenRatz
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: AllenRatz
Verified date: Aug 22, 2015

Observation date: Jul 17, 2015
Submitted by: Happyhealy
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 12, 2015
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