Alypia octomaculata

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Eight Spotted Forester
- 9314 - Alypia octomaculata - Eight-spotted Forester Moth (47990267816).jpg
Adult Alypia octomaculata
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Alypia
Species:
A. octomaculata
Binomial name
Alypia octomaculata
Fabricius, 1775
Synonyms
  • Sesia 8-maculata
  • Sesia octomaculataFabricius, 1775
  • Phalaena albomaculataStoll, 1782
  • Phalaena bimaculataGmelin, 1790
  • Alypia octomaculalisHübner, 1818
  • Alypia quadriguttalisHübner, 1818
  • Alypia matutaH. Edwards, 1883
  • Alypia dipsaciGrote & Robinson, 1868

Alypia octomaculata, the eight-spotted forester, is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It is native to Canada, but can be found today throughout Northern America, ranging between Nova Scotia to Florida and South Dakota to Texas. [1] Their habitats being rather specific, they make home where wooded areas meet open fields.

Contents

Description

Mature A. octomaculata larva Alypia2.JPG
Mature A. octomaculata larva

Full grown larvae reach up to 25.4–38 millimetres (1–1+1⁄2 in). [2] The moth is overall black with two spots on each wing (total of eight spots), it's forewing ranges between shades of white, cream, or yellow. [3] Their wingspan is around 30–37 millimetres (1.2–1.5 in). These moths are active during the day and night, [4] often being mistaken as a butterfly. [5]

Larvae

The larvae feed on the underside of leaves and stems of grapevines, peppervines and Virginia creepers. [2] [4] A. octomaculata larvae are considered somewhat of a pest in commercial and decorative vineyards. [5]

When threatened, their first line of defense is to vomit a foul orange tinted liquid. It escapes by falling off of its perch, still attached to it by the silk thread excreted from its mouth.

Larvae who are still around during the fall like to spin their soft-walled cocoon into partial decayed material such as wood, soil, and even trash. Some mature caterpillars even die when they aren't given an opportunity to bore themselves into something pulpy and suitable. [5]

Pupae

Like many other moths, A. octomaculata have the ability to remain in something called a diapause, a dormant state in which their development is delayed, up to as far as 4 years long on record. The conditions of when they decide to hatch is unknown. [5]

Adults

A. octomaculata are univoltine more north, flying late spring from April to June to produce one generation. In warmer climates there may be two annual broods and even attempts at three. [5] The matured adults feed on nectar from flowers of herbaceous plants. When their initial brood peaks, during March, the adults fly to flowers such as that of Sweetleaf. [4]

Subspecies

Related Research Articles

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The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other families of the Noctuoidea. It was considered the largest family in Lepidoptera for a long time, but after regrouping Lymantriinae, Catocalinae and Calpinae within the family Erebidae, the latter holds this title now. Currently, Noctuidae is the second largest family in Noctuoidea, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. This classification is still contingent, as more changes continue to appear between Noctuidae and Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phaegopterina</span> Subtribe of moths

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<i>Alypia</i> Genus of moths

Alypia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae.

<i>Acontia areletta</i> Species of moth

Acontia areletta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1907. It is found in Mexico.

<i>Alypia langtoni</i> Species of moth

Alypia langtoni, the six-spotted forester or Langton's forester, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by William Couper in 1865. It is found in North America from Newfoundland to Alaska, south to Maine and Wisconsin in the east, south in the west to Colorado and California.

<i>Amyna axis</i> Species of moth

Amyna axis, the oriental eight-spot, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.

<i>Euxoa inconcinna</i> Species of moth

Euxoa inconcinna is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Hadena ectypa, known generally as the campion coronet or creeping lady's tress, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Cucullia mcdunnoughi is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Sympistis basifugens is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Lacinipolia circumcincta is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Protogygia milleri is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Orthodes adiastola is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Hyppa xylinoides</i> Species of moth

Hyppa xylinoides, known generally as the common hyppa or cranberry cutworm, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Papaipema nepheleptena, the turtle head borer moth, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Plusia nichollae</i> Species of moth

Plusia nichollae is a species of looper moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Copablepharon robertsoni</i> Species of moth

Copablepharon robertsoni is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Elaphria exesa</i> Species of moth

Elaphria exesa, the exesa midget moth, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

Unciella flagrantis is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Amyna stricta</i> Species of Moth

Amyna stricta, the eight-spot moth, is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North, Central, and South America.

References

  1. ↑ Heppner, J.B (2003). "Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas" (PDF). Lepidoptera of Florida. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 2007. 17.
  2. 1 2 Lowry, Quincy S. (1917-02-01). "An Outbreak of The Eight-Spotted Forester, Alypia Octomaculata Fabr., In New Haven, Conn". Journal of Economic Entomology. 10 (1): 47–48. doi:10.1093/jee/10.1.47. ISSN   1938-291X.
  3. ↑ Borror, Donald J. & White, Richard E., Insects - A Peterson Field Guide, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York, 1970, plate #12
  4. 1 2 3 Brou Jr., Vernon; Lafontaine, Donald (2009-05-12). "A new species of Lithophane Hbn. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae)". ZooKeys (9): 11–20. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.9.158 . ISSN   1313-2970.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Family Noctuidae)". Field Station. 2013-03-12.
  6. ↑ Lafontaine, Donald; Schmidt, Christian (2010-03-19). "Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico". ZooKeys (40): 64. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.40.414 . ISSN   1313-2970.


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