Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Genus Tarache Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | Subphylum Hexapoda Family Noctuidae Scientific name Tarache aprica Rank Species | |
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Similar Tarache, Spragueia leo, Ponometia candefacta, Butterflies and moths, Homophoberia | ||
Tarache aprica (exposed bird dropping moth or nun) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from Ontario and Quebec to Florida, west to Arizona, north to Kansas and Iowa. There are some records from Great Britain, but this probably relates to imports.
The habitat consists of gardens, fields and open areas.
The adults are sexually dimorphic. The male forewing is basally white with two black patches along the costa, the distal patch merging with general blackish shading beyond PM line, leaving a white patch near the apex. The female forewing is mostly dark gray or blackish except for two white patches along the costa, and some white at the base and outer margin. There is a small black orbicular spot surrounded by white, which is usually prominent in both sexes. The hindwing is whitish or pale gray. There is a dark grayish-brown shading along the outer margin in the females.
The wingspan is 15–29 mm. Adults are on wing from March to September in the south. They have a reduced season in the north.
The larvae feed on Alcea rosea.