Species Clostera paraphora - Hodges#7899

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)

Subfamily Pygaerinae

Genus Clostera

Species paraphora (Clostera paraphora - Hodges#7899)

Hodges Number

7899

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

described in 1921 by Dyar, who originally placed it in genus Melalopha

Size

wingspan 31-36 mm, based on three Internet photos

Identification

Adult: forewing more-or-less uniformly bluish-gray; PM line pale, wavy/meandering throughout its length; subterminal line an irregular series of black dashes or blotches; AM and median lines faint but usually distinguishable; hindwing medium gray

This is the only Clostera species appearing on lists from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado/Utah.

Range

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming (according to distribution map on this page)

Season

the only date found on the Internet was June 17 in Colorado

See Also

other species of Clostera (except C. inornata) lack a bluish-gray forewing and/or a wavy PM line (compare images of several species by Jim Vargo at MPG)

Clostera inornata is very similar (see photo) but is apparently restricted to Arizona and southern Texas (see distribution map)

Clostera brucei has a PM line that is only gently sinuate to almost straight and shows more contrast between the brown shadings and whitish-gray regions of the forewing (1)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Pacific Northwest Moths

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

Works Cited

1.	The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 22.1A Miller, J.S., D.L. Wagner, P.A. Opler & J.D. Lafontaine. 2018. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 8 December, 2007 - 8:42am
Additional contributions by Edward Ruden, Steve Morris
Last updated 16 December, 2022 - 9:38am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version