About Lon melane (Edwards, 1869)
This species has the scientific name Lon melane (Edwards, 1869). The uppersides of its wings are umber or red-brown: the forewing bears a row of lighter spots, and the hindwing has some orange markings. The underside of the wings is brown with some spotting. The wingspan ranges from 32 to 35 millimetres, or 1.3 to 1.4 inches. Its habitat includes desert foothills, grassy areas, streamsides, roadsides, yards, parks, and open oak woodland. This species has two generations per year, with adult moths or butterflies active on wing from March to May, and again from September to October. Adult individuals feed on flower nectar. Larvae feed on the leaves of a wide variety of grasses and related plants, including Cynodon dactylon, Deschampsia caespitosa, Lamarckia aurea, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Carex spissa, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Ehrharta erecta, Lolium multiflorum, Paspalum dilatatum, Pennisetum clandestinum, Sorghum sudanense, Digitaria sanguinalis, Bromus carinatus, Dactylis glomerata, Agrostis palustris, Festuca myuros, Festuca rubra, Agropyron cristatum, and Poa pratensis. The larvae live in shelters constructed from rolled or tied leaves.
