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Morning-glory prominent moth facts for kids

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Morning-glory prominent moth
Schizura ipomoeae – Morning-glory Prominent Moth.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Notodontidae
Genus:
Schizura
Species:
S. ipomoeae
Binomial name
Schizura ipomoeae
Doubleday, 1841
Synonyms
  • Schizura ipomaeae
  • Coelodasys biguttata Packard, 1864
  • Coelodasys cinereofrons Packard, 1864
  • Drymonia confusa Walker, 1865
  • Heterocampa ducens Walker, 1865
  • Heterocampa corticea Walker, 1865
  • Heterocampa compta Walker, 1865
  • Heterocampa nigrosignata Walker, 1865
  • Heterocampa ustipennis Walker, 1865
  • Coelodasys telifer Grote, 1880

Schizura ipomoeae, the morning-glory prominent moth or false unicorn caterpillar, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. The species was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1841. It is found in the United States and southern Canada.

The wingspan is 36–47 mm. The forewings are highly variable in colour but usually greyish brown with a pattern of black streaks and spots. The hindwings are dirty white in males and dark grey in females. Adults are on wing from April to September in the south and from June to August in the north. There is one generation per year in the north.

The larvae feed on the leaves of various woody plants, including Fagus, Betula, Ulmus, Acer, Ipomoea, Quercus, Hamamelis, and Rosa species. Larvae can be found from May to October. The species overwinters in the pupal stage.

Taxonomy

There are a number of described forms.

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