Hoary Edge - Achalarus lyciades

Habitat

The hoary edge is found in open woodlands and brushy areas with oak and pine trees and sandy soil. It is also found in meadows, gardens, and on roadsides.

Diet

The hoary edge caterpillar eats plants in the legume or Fabaceae family, especially bush clover, false indigo, and tick trefoil. The adult eats nectar from a variety of flowers including milkweed, dogbane, buttonbush, and Japanese honeysuckle.

Life Cycle

The male hoary edge selects a spot on a tree or shrub 3-6 feet above the ground, perches, and waits for a female. He defends his spot from other males and gives chase if one gets too close! The female lays one egg at a time on the underside of a leaf. In the northern part of its range, the hoary edge produces one brood a year. In the southern part of its range, it produces two broods a year. The larvae have a black head and a green body with yellowish-orange dots.