Explanation of Names
MINIATA: from the Latin "miniatus" (colored with red lead or vermilion); refers to the color on the wings
Identification
Adult: forewing ground color entirely red; two broad dark gray stripes extend longitudinally along wing, with another shorter stripe between them at outer margin; hindwing red with broad dark terminal band (usually broader than the band seen in H. fucosa) or absent in some southern specimens
Range
United States east of the Rockies, and across southern Canada to British Columbia
Habitat
dry open woodlands, especially Jack Pine (and in the west, Lodgepole Pine) forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from June to August
Food
larvae feed on lichen on trees
Remarks
As of June 2005, the USGS "Moths of North America" site has its images transposed; if the photos labeled
H. fucosa and
H. miniata traded places, they would be correctly labeled.
The former USGS pages moved to www.butterfliesandmoths.org in mid-2006; as of October 2006, the photos of
fucosa and
miniata are still mislabeled.
See Also
Painted Lichen Moth (
H. fucosa) forewing has extensive yellow (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
Internet References
live adult images (Bob Patterson, Maryland)
live adult images (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
pinned adult image plus common name reference [Scarlet-winged Lichen Moth], description, similar species, distribution, larval food (Gerald Fauske, North Dakota State U.)
pinned adult image by G.G. Anweiler, plus common name reference [Scarlet Lichen Moth], habitat, flight season, larval food, distribution (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
