Herpetogramma aeglealis

Herpetogramma aeglealis
Male of the typical form
Female of the typical form
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Herpetogramma
Species:	H. aeglealis
Binomial name
Herpetogramma aeglealis (Walker, 1859)
Synonyms
Botys aeglealis Walker, 1859 Botis quinquelinealis Grote, 1875

Herpetogramma aeglealis, commonly known as the serpentine webworm moth, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1859 and is found in eastern North America.

Description

The wingspan is 29–34 mm for males and 27–31 mm for females. Adults are sexually dimorphic. The hindwings of the males are dirty white with dark grey shading on the discal spot, wing veins, subterminal area and an irregular but contrasting postmedial line. Females have a golden hue. There are two forms, a darker and a typical form.

Behaviour and ecology

The larvae have been reared on a variety of herbaceous plants including ragwort, ferns, goldenrod, raspberry, pokeweed, wild ginger, and mayapple.

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  Early instar caterpillar (raised in wild ginger)
• 
  Later instar caterpillar
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  Male of the dark form
• 
  Female of the dark form