Explanation of Names
Author of Grammia was Rambur, 1866. Latin grammus is a mark, so perhaps grammia means "marked". Grammus is also a mountain range, or mountain, in Macedonia. The markings on the wings are rather peaked like a mountain range--perhaps that is the reference as well. Likewise, perhaps there is a relationship to "grammar", from grammatical-like markings on wings? At any rate, the genus name seems to refer to the strong markings on the wings.
Numbers
thirty-eight species in the genus for North America north of Mexico
(a)
many subspecies recognized
See Also
Apantesis species are smaller, with dark forewings.
Print References
Covell, pp. 70-72, plates 14-16
(1)
Lafontaine JD, Schmidt BC (2010) Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico.
Pgs. 16-17 (a) (PDF download)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - photos of pinned adults representing many of the species. (continues for several pages)
North Dakota State U.. It includes a key to species in N. Dakota.
