Species Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101

9101

Ponometia tortricina (Zeller, 1872)

Tarachidia tortricina (Zeller, 1872)

Agrophila tortricina Zeller, 1872 (1)

Fruva obsoleta Grote, 1877 (2)

Fruva deleta H. Edwards, 1884 (3)

Fruva modesta H. Edwards, 1884 (3)

Forewing length: 9-10 mm (4), wingspan: 18-21 mm (5).

Lighter specimens of P. tortricina can be readily identified by the even color and black orbicular spot. Dark specimens are closely similar to Ponometia fumata and cannot be reliably sorted by superficial appearance" (4).

"Widespread in the Great Plains, occurring from the Mexican border in Texas and New Mexico north to southern Manitoba and central Alberta" (4). MPG shows scattered records across the east, but these are unverified and probably based on misidentifications. Apparently absent from California, southern Nevada, and most of Arizona (4).

"Dry wooded areas, grasslands and badlands" (5).

"It has been collected from mid-May to early September, although most records are from June and July" (4).

Unknown (4) (5) (6), but has been associated with sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) in North Dakota and Texas (5) (7).

"Specimens from the northern prairie provinces of Canada usually have a distinct orange tint to part of the maculation" (6).

Edwards, H. 1884. Apparently new species of North American Heterocera. Papilio. 4(7): 124 (3).

Grote, A.R. 1877. Six new Noctuæ. The Canadian Entomologist. 9(4): 69 (2).

Zeller, P.C. 1872. Beiträge zur Kentniss der nordamericanischen Nachtfalter besonders der Microlepidopteren. Wien: A. Holzhausen. 15-16, Tab. II, fig. 5 (1).

Species page at Pacific Northwest Moths (4)

Species page at E. H. Strickland Museum (5)

Species page at Nearctica [Robert Poole] (6)

Species page at Moths of North Dakota (7)

Species page at Moth Photographers Group (MPG) (8)

Species page at The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (9)