About Apantesis nais Drury, 1773
This species, Apantesis nais, has a wingspan ranging from 30 to 42 mm (1.2 to 1.7 inches). In males, the forewings are mostly black, with a cream-colored costal border and cream-colored lines that extend from the base. Hindwing color varies between individuals, but they are most often reddish or yellow, and carry a row of large black spots in their median area. Females have a much reduced set of pale lines on the forewings, and their hindwings have broad black bands in the subterminal area. Adult Apantesis nais are active in flight from April through October. The larvae of this moth feed on a wide variety of herbaceous and woody plants, including grasses, violets, plantain, and clover. Apantesis nais is distributed across North America, ranging from Quebec and Maine in the north, south to Florida, and west to Texas and South Dakota. It has also been recorded in Ohio. This species primarily inhabits woodlands and forested areas.
