Cycnia inopinatus, the unexpected cycnia, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It is found in the United States (Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin)"930402.00 – 8229 – Cycnia collaris – (Fitch, 1857)". Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. and Mexico. The habitat consists of high quality barrens remnants.
The wingspan is about 27 mm. Adults have been recorded on wing from April to August.
The larvae feed on Asclepias species.BugGuide
Etymology The species name is derived from Latin inopinatus (meaning unexpected, surprising).
Subspecies Cycnia inopinatus inopinatus Cycnia inopinatus tenerosa (Dyar, 1913) (Mexico)
References
Cycnia Research Blog