Vampire Moths

Calyptra

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Calpinae
Tribe: Calpini
Genus: Calyptra

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calyptra: //kəˈlɪptɹə//

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Images

Summary

Calyptra is a genus of moths known as Vampire Moths, with some species notorious for blood-feeding. They are characterized by their distinctive forewing patterns and habitat preferences.

Physical Characteristics

Adult: forewing light brown with darker brown bands, pointed apex, and angular outer margin; PM line sharp, nearly straight, slanting from apex to inner margin; dark scaling along veins; two scale tufts on inner margin, the basal tuft forms a prominent lobe, and the distal one a small sharp point; hindwing grayish-brown; antennae bipectinate in both sexes. Larva: white with scattered black spots along the back; broad broken black stripe along each side; head yellow with three black spots on each side.

Identification Tips

Note the pointed apex and angular outer margin of the forewings, with distinct dark bands and scale tufts on the inner margin.

Habitat

Mesic and wet meadows; edges and clearings.

Distribution

Nova Scotia to North Carolina in the mountains, west to Texas, north to Saskatchewan, straying to Alberta.

Diet

Larvae feed on meadow-rue (Thalictrum spp.).

Life Cycle

One generation per year; adults fly from June to September in the south; July and August in the north (Quebec).

Health Concerns

Some species in Southeast Asia have been shown to feed on the blood of large animals, including humans, using a sclerotized proboscis that can perforate skin.