Marbled-green leuconycta moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marbled-green leuconycta moth |
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The marbled-green leuconycta moth (scientific name: Leuconycta lepidula) is a fascinating type of moth. It belongs to a large family of moths called Noctuidae. This moth is also known by other names, like the marbled-green jaspidia or dark leuconycta.
A scientist named Augustus Radcliffe Grote was the first to describe this species in 1874. Moths are insects that are closely related to butterflies. They are known for their fuzzy bodies and wings that often have cool patterns.
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Where Do Marbled-Green Moths Live?
This moth can be found across a wide area of North America. Its home range stretches from Nova Scotia in eastern Canada all the way down to North Carolina in the United States.
It also lives west into Texas and north up to Alberta, Canada. This means it can survive in many different environments!
What Do Marbled-Green Moths Look Like?
The marbled-green leuconycta moth has a wingspan of about 30 millimeters (which is about 1.2 inches). Its front wings, called forewings, are a mix of grayish-brown and black colors.
They often have cool green spots and patches, especially on the outer parts of the wings. You might also see a black patch near the base of the wing and a black triangle shape in the middle. The back wings, called hindwings, are usually dark gray.
Life Cycle of the Marbled-Green Moth
Adult marbled-green moths are typically seen flying from May to August. They usually have one generation of moths each year. This means that the moths lay eggs, which hatch into larvae, and then grow into new adults all within one season.
What Do Marbled-Green Moth Larvae Eat?
The young moths, known as larvae or caterpillars, have a specific diet. They like to munch on different types of Taraxacum plants. This includes the very common Taraxacum officinale, which you might know as the regular dandelion.
