Genus Bulia

Bulia Walker, 1858

3 species in America north of Mexico.(1)

wingspan 28-38 mm.

B. deducta is resident throughout the southwestern states from California and Nevada, east to Missouri and Mississippi, south into Mexico; it is a migrant in northwestern United States, and rarely Canada, with single or very few records from each of the 4 western provinces; also recorded from Florida, probably as a migrant, as the host plant (mesquite) doesn't occur in Florida

B. similaris is restricted in North America to disjunct populations in southern Texas, southern New Mexico, south-central Arizona (Baboquivari Mountains), and southern California; also occurs south into Mexico.

B. schausi has only been reported in Arizona.

adults fly from March to October in the southwest; most numerous in July and August

larvae of B. deducta feed on mesquite (Prosopis spp.)

larval host of B. similaris is unknown but presumed to be Prosopis

larval host of B. schausi is unknown but presumed to be Prosopis

The print reference by Pogue and Laughlin(2) gives excellent descriptive details on the five species of Bulia, and includes locations and collection dates of many specimens that were examined during the work of revising the genus. Highly recommended.

There are only 3 species of Bulia in North America: deducta, similaris, and schausi. It is not possible to distinguish them without dissection or DNA sequencing, and as such, any specimens of Bulia where distribution overlaps should be placed on this genus page.

Lafontaine J. D., and B. C. Schmidt 2010. Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico. p. 35.(1)

Pogue, M. G. & A. C. Laughlin 2002. A revision of the genus Bulia (Walker Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Jl. Lep. Soc. 56(3): 129-151

distribution maps of 5 species, plus type specimen localities, foodplants, synonyms, references (Markku Savela, FUNET)