Lepidoptera – Page 2

I was always fascinated with this species growing up after seeing some framed specimens. My chance to see one finally came when I was doing research in Arkansas. I was able to see quite a few individuals and managed to collect a few as well. I recently was able to get another individual from south Texas as well.

This is a widespread (though somewhat sporadic) species in the southern states but doesn’t really get noticed much. This is thanks in part to the excellent cryptic coloration of a dead leaf. This species is also known to have summer and winter forms, which unfortunately the collection is missing the winter form.

The collection currently holds a handful of specimens, mostly from Arkansas but also one individual from Texas.

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Other online sources:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/goatweed_bfly.htm

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anaea-andria

https://bugguide.net/node/view/13806

I’ve only encountered this species once while I was working in Arkansas. Luckily I was able to catch it for the collection. I was out collecting around the light pole and security light when this individual came flying in. I was really excited to be able to get a new species to the collection.

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Xylophanes tersa can be found throughout much of the eastern U.S though its much more common in the southern states as it migrates north every year. This is an unmistakable species so getting a correct ID should be really easy. The abdomen is extremely pointed and it has a very streamline body. The hindwings have very contrasting black and yellow/white markings.

Caterpillar host plants include smooth buttonplant, starclusters, catalpa plus a few others.

Currently there is 1 specimen in the collection collected in eastern Arkansas.