Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Megalographa biloba (Stephens, 1830)
Plusia biloba Stephens, 1830
Autographa biloba
Phytometra biloba ab. venezuelensis Strand, 1917
Autographa solida Ottolengui, 1902
phylogenetic sequence # 931209
Numbers
The only species in this genus in North America.
Size
forewing length 15-18 mm.
(1)Identification
Adult: forewing stigma very large, bilobed, silvery-white; silvery scales in lower half of reniform spot and AM line.
Specimen identified by DNA analysis:
Range
Southern Canada except in the west, throughout most of the United States.
(2)Season
Adults fly from March/April to October/November; probably all year in far south.
Food
Larvae feed on alfalfa, barley, cabbage, cranesbill, dandelion, gladiolus, hedge-nettle, kidney-bean, larkspur, lettuce, plantain, sage, tobacco, vervain.
Life Cycle
Larva; cocoon; pupa; adult:
Remarks
In the northern parts of its range, is a migrant only (does not overwinter there).
A very widespread species; the type specimen was collected in Venezuela.
Print References
Eichlin, T.D. & H.B. Cunningham 1978. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology. USDA Tech. Bulletin 1567: 1-122.
(3)
Lafontaine, J.D. & R.W. Poole 1991. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 25.1; p.95; pl.2.1-2
(4)
Ottolengui, R. 1902.
Plusia and allied genera with descriptions of new species. Jl. N.Y. Ent. Soc. 10(2):
64, pl. 6, f. 5 (Synonym
Autographa solida)
Pogue, M.G. 2005. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zootaxa 1032: 1–28 (
PDF)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America; p.278, pl.50.1
(1)
Strand, E. 1917. Archiv Naturg. 82 A (2):
49 (synonym
Phytometra biloba ab.
venezuelensis)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - species account with collection map and photos of pinned adults.
live adult image (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
live adult images (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
pinned adult image and distribution (Matthew Barnes, Jamaica)
common name reference plus larval foodplants and flight season (Ohio State U.)