About Virbia opella Grote, 1863
Virbia opella, commonly known as the tawny holomelina, is a species of moth belonging to the family Erebidae. This species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1863. In the United States, it can be found ranging from Maine westward to Illinois, and southward to Texas. Its preferred habitats are oak forests and scrub oak forests. Adult males have forewings that reach an average length of around 11 mm, while adult females have slightly longer forewings, averaging about 12 mm. Across most of the species' range, there are multiple generations of the moth each year. In Louisiana specifically, there are three generations annually, and adults of this species can be seen in flight from November through February. The species' larvae have been successfully reared on dandelion species.
