Black zigzag facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Black zigzag
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Panthea
Species:	P. acronyctoides
Binomial name
Panthea acronyctoides (Walker, 1861)
Synonyms
Audela acronyctoides Walker, 1861 Panthea leucomelana Morrison, 1876 Diphthera acronyctoides Walker, 1861, Draudt, 1924 in Seitz, 1924 Panthea albosuffusa McDunnough, 1937 (form)

Panthea acronyctoides, the black zigzag or tufted spruce caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1861. It is found in North America from Newfoundland to British Columbia and adjacent northern states, south in the west to Colorado, south in the east to New England and Kentucky.

Male Panthea acronyctoides acronyctoides

Male (top) and female Panthea acronyctoides nigra

The wingspan is 30–35 mm. The moth flies from May to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, pines, and spruces.

Subspecies

There are two recognised subspecies:

• Panthea acronyctoides acronyctoides (Walker, 1861)
• Panthea acronyctoides nigra Anweiler, 2009