Intermediate Falconer

Adults on the wing from mid May through early August.

Cucullia intermedia occurs from Newfoundland to the coast of BC, south in the east through New England and in the west to CA and central AZ. It is common throughout most of Alberta south of the boreal forest, rare further north.

Cucullia intermedia is a medium-size (wingspan 4.5–5 cm) moth with uniformly medium to dark grey forewings, relatively unmarked except for numerous fine dark grey or black longitudinal lines. The normal spots are barely indicated by a faint partial outline of black scales. The hindwings are entirely grey-brown with the veins thinly lined with darker scales. The dark hindwings separate intermedia from all similar-sized Alberta Cucullia species. It is most likely to be confused with Cucullia speyeri, which is usually paler grey, has a small but prominent black streak in the anal angle of the forewing and mostly white hindwings. There are also significant differences in the genitalia of both sexes of the two species. Adults and genitalia of both sexes of intermedia are illustrated by Poole (1995).

It frequents a range of habits, from the grasslands to open boreal woodland and urban areas.

The adults are nocturnal and come to light. There appears to be a single annual brood, with adults on the wing from mid May through early August, peaking in late May and early June. The larva is described by Poole (1995). Larvae have been reared from Lactuca biennis (Moesch.) Fernald and L. canadensis L. (Asteraceae). A large number were also collected from and reared on White birch (Betula) by the Forest Insect and Disease Survey, a most unusual host switch from the Composite herbs used by most species of Cucullia!

Cucullia intermedia, the dusky hooded owlet, intermediate cucullia, goldenrod cutworm or intermediate hooded owlet, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Adolph Speyer in 1870. It is found from coast to coast across southern Canada and the northern United States, south in the west to California and to Pennsylvania in the east. In the Rocky Mountains it is found south to the White Mountains in east-central Arizona and occurs commonly in Utah, Colorado and north-eastern Nevada.

Caterpillar

The wingspan is 45–50 mm. Adults are on wing from May to October. There are two generations per year.

The larvae feed on the leaves of birch, poplar, willow and other trees and shrubs, as well as flowers of Lactuca and other Asteraceae species.