''Ponometia erastrioides'', the small bird-dropping moth or small bird lime moth, is a
moth of the family
Noctuidae
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 f ...
. It is found in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
, where it has been recorded from the eastern
United States and south-central
Canada (
Quebec,
Ontario,
Saskatchewan). The habitat consists of fields, waste places and riparian areas.
The
wingspan is 16–20 mm. The forewings are white with large diagonal blackish patch in the distal half. The hindwings are whitish, basally with greyish-brown shading distally. Adults are on wing from May to September.
The larvae feed on ''
Ambrosia
In the ancient Greek myths, ''ambrosia'' (, grc, ἀμβροσία 'immortality'), the food or drink of the Greek gods, is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus ...
'' species. They are tan to nearly black or sometimes pale green. Full-grown larvae reach a length of 25 mm.
Bug Guide
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References
Moths described in 1852
Acontiinae
{{Acontiinae-stub