Dusky hooded owlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dusky hooded owlet |
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The dusky hooded owlet (scientific name: Cucullia intermedia) is a type of moth. It's also known by other names like the intermediate cucullia or goldenrod cutworm. This moth belongs to a large family called Noctuidae, which includes many night-flying moths. It was first officially described in 1870 by a scientist named Adolph Speyer.
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About the Dusky Hooded Owlet
The dusky hooded owlet is a fascinating moth. Its wingspan can be quite large, usually between 45 and 50 millimeters. That's about the length of two standard paperclips! These moths are active during certain times of the year. You can usually see adult moths flying from May all the way to October.
Life Cycle of the Moth
These moths have two generations each year. This means they complete their full life cycle from egg to adult moth twice in one year. The first group of moths lays eggs, which hatch into caterpillars. These caterpillars grow and turn into moths. Then, those new moths lay eggs for a second group of caterpillars and moths.
Where Do They Live?
The dusky hooded owlet moth lives across a wide area in North America. You can find them from one side of southern Canada to the other. They also live throughout the northern United States.
Specific Locations
In the western United States, they can be found as far south as California. In the eastern part of the country, they reach down to Pennsylvania. If you travel to the Rocky Mountains, you might spot them in places like the White Mountains in east-central Arizona. They are also very common in states like Utah, Colorado, and northeastern Nevada.
What Do They Eat?
Like many moths, the dusky hooded owlet has different eating habits depending on its life stage. When they are young, they are larvae, also known as caterpillars.
Caterpillar Diet
The caterpillars of the dusky hooded owlet are quite particular about their food. They mostly munch on the leaves of various trees and shrubs. Some of their favorite plants include:
- Birch trees
- Poplar trees
- Willow trees
They also enjoy eating the flowers of certain plants. These include species from the Lactuca group and other plants in the Asteraceae family. The Asteraceae family is a large group that includes many common flowers like sunflowers and daisies.
