Thanks A! I am enjoying Bug Guide. I like observing my natural surroundings and then digging in to actually learn the names of what I'm seeing.

Thank you for the identification, John.
Wow! When you say it's only the second report in Oklahoma, how significant is that? Does that speak to the limited number of people reporting moth sightings in this area, or is this species actually uncommon here?

Zach,
That's a good question and the short answer is yes. ;-)

While the OK data base has records from the 1930s, most records are much newer. John Nelson, my mentor, started collecting and tracking Leps in the 1970s. For most of that time only a couple or so folks were doing anything with Leps. With the advent of the Internet, more folks have become interested since it provides a way for the novice to identify their find. Had the Internet and sites like MPG & BG been around all that time who knows what todays occurance maps would look like.

Looking at the MPS ranges maps for maculata & sepulchralis, I'd have to say OK is "outside" maculata's range. Fortunately, it can't read. Either that, or maybe they're just messing with us. :-)
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=6076
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=6077

John

PS - FWIW, most of the people doing Leps in OK don't post to BG.

Zach, now that the moth is on the species page, click on the images tab and you will see that there are 4 pages of submissions. This means that it is not terribly common, but not at all rare. Then click on the Data tab and you will see where and when the submissions were made.

As for under reporting in Oklahoma, I don't know how many users there are in Oklahoma but I do know of at least 7 that are very active, so I would say it is seldom seen in Oklahoma.