Species Anarta mutata - The Mutant - Hodges#10224

10224

Discestra mutata

described in 1913 by Dod, who originally placed it in genus Mamestra

mutata: from the Latin verb "mutare" (to change; to mutate); I don't know how the word applies to the moth but it's the origin of the suggested common name The Mutant, intended as a companion to the name of its sister species The Nutmeg

wingspan about 34-35 mm, based on two Internet photos

Adult: forewing brownish-gray with double AM and PM lines; orbicular spot oblong; dark shading in lower half of reniform spot; claviform spot cone-shaped (may be dark in some specimens, pale in others); subterminal line whitish, distinct, with large W-shaped jog near middle; fringe checkered with pale and dark scales; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to dark gray distally, with dark gray veins; fringe whitish

western North America: Texas to California, north to British Columbia, east to Manitoba

adults fly from April to October in California

The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii) forewing has a more circular orbicular spot (not oblong), a less distinct subterminal line, and the ground color is yellowish-gray (not brownish-gray) -- compare images of both species at CBIF

Discestra obesula forewing is darker overall, with contrasting pale shading in subterminal area, and doesn't occur south of Oregon or west of Alberta -- compare images of both species at CBIF

pinned adult image and photos of related species by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)

pinned adult image plus date and location (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

presence in California; list of 9 specimen records with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)

presence in Texas; list (Dale Clark, Texas)

distribution in Canada; list of provinces where it occurs (CBIF)

author, date, and original genus (nearctica.com)