Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Silver, J. C. 1933. Biology and morphology of the spindle worm, or elder borer. USDA Technical Bulletin 345, USDA, Washington, DC.; Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011) | |
Adult Markings: A medium sized Noctuid. The ground color is crimson but overlaid with pinkish-brown; a distinctive patch of orange is present at the apex of the forewing, with the head and thorax the same color (Forbes, 1954). |
Wingspan: 2.5 - 3.5 cm (Covell, 1984) |
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are quite characteristic: note the peculiar uncus which is curved under the tegumen; the aedeagus has a field of spines near the tip; and the vesica has one very distinct cornutus and a small sclerotized patch which may have had deciduous cornuti. In the female notice the sclerotized anal papillae which are pointed, a feature often found in females which insert their eggs into tight places such as elderberry shoots. |
Structural photos |
![](photos_structures/2017/tn9520.00_1491054336.jpg) Male reproductive structures. Specimen collected September 18, 2009, Robeson County, by J.B. Sullivan. |
![](photos_structures/2017/tn9520.00_1491054367.jpg) Aedeagus. Specimen collected September 18, 2009, Robeson County, by J.B. Sullivan. |
![](photos_structures/2017/tn9520.00_1491054443.jpg) Female reproductive structures. Specimen collected June 4, 1972, Carteret County, by J.B. Sullivan. |
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Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
Immatures and Development: Larvae bore into Elderberry and much of the life history has been described by Silver (1933). The larva is cream with two horizontal rows of black spots on each segment. Reports of the larva boring other plants need to be confirmed. |
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |