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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 932875 – 10293   Melanchra picta (Harris, 1841)              Zebra Caterpillar

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Adoxaceae[Caprifoliaceae] Alliaceae[Liliaceae] Amaryllidaceae[Liliaceae] Amaranthaceae[Chenopodiaceae] Apocynaceae Asparagaceae[Liliaceae] Asteraceae Brassicaceae Cannabaceae Caprifoliaceae Betulaceae..  Host genera: Allium Apium Apocynum Arctium Asparagus Aster[unresolved] Avena Beta Brassica Cakile Chenopodium Citrus Corylus Daucus Dyssodia Gladiolus Fagopyrum Fragaria Hydrangea Hymenocallis Humulus Lathyrus Lon...  Notes: various trees, crops & low plants (Beadle & Leckie 2012); polyphagous on herbs (Forbes 1954); very broad generalist on many kinds of herbs & hardwood (Crabo et al 2014).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: picta (Harris, 1841) (Mamestra) - MONA 1983: 10293 contraria (Walker, 1857) (Mythimna) exusta (Guenée, 1852) (Ceramica)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 55.31m; p. 303. Book Review and ordering Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at Block Island Moths Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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