About Sthenopis argenteomaculatus (Harris, 1841)
Sthenopis argenteomaculatus, commonly called the silver-spotted ghost moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Hepialidae. It was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. This species is found in North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, and extending west to Minnesota. The wingspan of adult silver-spotted ghost moths measures approximately 65–100 mm (2.6–3.9 in). Their forewings range in color from gray to tan, and are crossed by irregular dark bands. Adult moths are active on the wing between June and August. John Henry Comstock classified the wing venation of this species as primitive: the costa of both the forewing and hindwing retain the original four branches, while the hindwing costa is fused into a single vein in most other Lepidoptera. Comstock frequently used the silver-spotted ghost moth in his publications about lepidopteran wings and wing venation; in at least one instance, an illustration of the species appeared on the publication's title page as a frontispiece. The illustrations of hepialid moths and their wing venation for Comstock's wing publications were created by Anna Botsford Comstock, who was sometimes Comstock's co-author. The known food host plants for this species are Alnus, Betula, and Salix. The larvae bore into the roots of their host plants that are partially submerged in water. The entire life cycle of Sthenopis argenteomaculatus takes two years to complete.
