Furcula modesta Hudson 1891

No conservation concerns.

Adults are on the wing late May to July.

Fom the Maritimes west across southern Canada to southeastern BC. In Alberta, found throughout the aspen parklands, southern boreal forest, foothills and lower elevations in the mountains. It apparently does not occur as far north in the Boreal region as F. scolopendrina and F. occidentalis.

A medium-sized (3.5-4.0 cm. wingspan) grey-black and white moth, with a cream or light tan cast to the white areas of the forewings. A broad black band crosses the median area of the forewings. It usually narrows in the middle, and in many specimens is divided into two wedge-shaped patches. Modesta can be separated from other Furcula sp. by the absence of yellow or gold scaling on the forewing where the lines cross the veins. Male modesta can also be separated from the other species of Furcula by the diamond shape of the laterally flattened uncus.

Deciduous woodland and shrub.

Adults are nocturnal and come to light. The larvae are solitary defoliators. There is a single brood which overwinters in the pupal stage.

No Alberta data. Elsewhere reported larval hosts include aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides) and willows (Salix).

Furcula modesta, the modest furcula or modest kitten, is a species of moth in the family Notodontidae (the prominents). It was first described by Hudson in 1891 and it is found in North America.

The MONA or Hodges number for Furcula modesta is 7941.