Identification: Females are larger than males. Male abdomen is black with a red tip, female abdomen is black. Upperside of wings is creamy white with wide black borders and black on the costal edges and wing bases. Each wing has a small black eyespot and some pale yellow streaks in the white portion.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5 - 7 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge just after dawn and mating begins in late morning. Females lay eggs in the early afternoon in rings around twigs of the host plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring. Young caterpillars feed in groups and older caterpillars feed alone. Caterpillars spin loose cocoons in plant litter under the host plants.
Flight: One brood from September.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of willows (Salix) and cottonwoods (Populus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Riparian zones and areas with high groundwater.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
301209 | 2021-05-22 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.121593 -95.953543 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
177224 | 2016-10-03 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.08 -95.9765 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
193930 | 2015-09-28 | Monona County | Iowa | 42.001594 -95.9832577 | 1 | |
108207 | 2014-05-24 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.1191667 -95.9580556 | Tom Jantscher | 100 |
108208 | 2014-05-24 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.1175 -95.9625 | Tom Jantscher | 15 |
1591 | 2013-10-13 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.1222222 -95.9536111 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
3515 | 2013-10-13 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.121674 -95.953677 | BAMONA | 1 |
29733 | 2013-10-13 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.12222 -95.95667 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
29734 | 2013-10-13 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.12222 -95.95667 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
29735 | 2013-10-13 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.12222 -95.95667 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
29732 | 2013-07-05 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.12222 -95.95361 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
29731 | 2010-05-23 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
29728 | 2009-09-26 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
29729 | 2009-09-26 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
29730 | 2009-09-26 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
29727 | 2009-06-18 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
302407 | 2006-08-26 | Leon's Farm, Ohio County | Kentucky | 37.419597 -86.769445 | Jim Durbin | 1 |