| Name: |
Owklet Moth (Noctuid) |
| AKA: |
Curly |
| Scientific Name: |
Anomogyna dilucida |
| Description: |
3/4 - 11/4 inch; thick bodied with 4 delicate wings.
Dull greyish-brown in color; body and wings are covered with tiny
"dustlike " scales". Wings folded rooflike over the body when at rest.
Mouth parts well suited for sucking and the long proboscis is curled
when not in use. Two large compound eyes with many facets (ommatidia).
Hairlike antennae. Moths undergo a complete metamorposis (that is
they change from a caterpillar to flying insect). Caterpillars are
mostly small and smooth (some other species are very hairy). The caterpillars
resemble tiger moth caterpillars. |
| Diet: |
Caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants including
foliage of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and grasses. Some species
feed on decaying organic matter while others are cannibalistic. Adults
frequently are nocturnal and feed on nectar, fermenting tree sap and
decaying fruit. |
| Habitat: |
Occurs in mixed and deciduous wooded areas. |
| Wanted For: |
Destroying crops, damaging plants or stored food. The
caterpillars are voracious eaters and can eat all the leaves of a
tree eventually killing it. Also wanted for spinning silk. The larvae
will develop silk glands (modified salivary glands) that can secrete
silk strands. Many larvae use silk to make cocoons or shelters. |
| Last Known Location: |
Flying near a porch or street light; or crawling on
your fruit trees. |
 |
