Simplicia xanthoma

Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Urban and Suburban Areas

Adult simplicia xanthoma may be attracted to light traps or bait such as fermented fruit or sugary concoctions placed out at night when the adults are most active.

The eggs of simplicia xanthoma are typically laid on host plants, so you would search them out by closely examining the underside of leaves. Caterpillars, the larval stage, can be found munching on leaves, stems, and other plant parts, usually at night due to their nocturnal behavior. To locate them, a search around potential host plants after dusk with a flashlight would be fruitful. Pupae could likely be hidden in the soil, leaf litter, or other quiet and dark places near the host plants, hence a careful search through such substrates would be necessary. Adult simplicia xanthoma moths, being drawn to light, are often found near light sources after dark, so setting up a light trap is an effective way to find them.

The best time to find simplicia xanthoma depends on its life cycle stage; larvae can be found from late spring to early summer, whereas adults might be more abundant at night during late summer and fall.

Mild to warm and humid nights would be ideal to search for adult simplicia xanthoma, as moths tend to be less active during cold or very dry conditions.