''Leuconycta diphteroides'', the green leuconycta moth or green owlet, 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 ...
. The species was
first described by
Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in North America from
Nova Scotia to
Florida, west to
Texas and north to
Saskatchewan.
The
wingspan is 27–32 mm. The forewings are suffused with green but may be all white in rare cases. There is a small black rectangular blotch which touches the costa near the base and another larger blotch halfway along the costa. One form has a number of black lines and spots scattered across the wing surface, while form "obliterata" is relatively unmarked. The hindwings are pale grayish with a dull yellowish terminal band. Adults are on wing from May to September.
The larvae feed on ''
Solidago'' and ''
Aster
Aster or ASTER may refer to:
Biology
* ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants
** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English
* Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...
'' species.
References
Moths described in 1852
Acontiinae
Moths of North America
{{Acontiinae-stub