Ochropleura implecta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ochropleura implecta |
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Ochropleura
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O. implecta
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| Ochropleura implecta Lafontaine, 1998
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The Ochropleura implecta is a type of moth that belongs to the Noctuidae family. You can find this moth in many parts of North America. It lives all the way from Newfoundland in the east, down to South Carolina, and west to Arizona and British Columbia.
About the Flame-shouldered Dart Moth
This moth is also known as the Flame-shouldered Dart Moth. It was first officially described in 1998 by a scientist named Don Lafontaine. He noticed that it looked very much like another moth, Ochropleura plecta, which lives in Europe and Asia. However, he found enough differences to name it as its own unique species.
Size and Appearance
The Ochropleura implecta is a medium-sized moth. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other when the wings are spread out) is usually between 25 and 32 millimeters (about 1 to 1.25 inches).
Life Cycle
Adult Ochropleura implecta moths are active for several months each year. You can usually see them flying from April all the way through September. During this time, they have two different generations. This means that the moths lay eggs, which hatch into caterpillars, then turn into new moths, and this whole process happens twice in one year!
What They Eat
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, need to eat a lot to grow. They feed on a variety of plants. Some of their favorite foods include common plants like beet, clover, chicory, and willow trees.
