Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011) | |
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, strikingly marked Noctuid. Very unlike anything else in our fauna except its congener, E. unio. Both have mostly white forewings edged in purple and orange hindwings. The greenish postmedian line distinguishes the two, smooth in this species and inwardly almost serrate in E. unio, a much smaller species. Adults have a very characteristic perching behavior with outstretched, fuzzy forelegs. When disturbed they feign death and curl their abdomen underneath them and fall to the ground. |
Wingspan: 35-45 mm (Forbes, 1954) |
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are rather typical except the aedeagus which is highly modified. The female genitalia are also strange with the ovipositor lobes enlarged and highly sclerotized but the bursae are much reduced and thread-like. Both male and female genitalia are easy to separate from those of E. unio. The modified ovipositors may reflect a peculiar method of placing eggs on the foodplants. |
Structural photos |
![](photos_structures/2016/tn9301.00_1455393431.jpg) Male reproductive structures |
![](photos_structures/2016/tn9301.00_1455393447.jpg) Aedeagus |
![](photos_structures/2016/tn9301.00_1455393469.jpg) Abdominal pelt |
![](photos_structures/2016/tn9301.00_1455393493.jpg) Female reproductive structures |
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Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar has the characteristic encircling black, white and orange bands, very lovely. |
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |