Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Oncocnemis saundersiana
Size
wingspan about 26 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
larvae less than 35 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing median area dark brownish-gray with pale gray or silvery shading inside AM line and in subterminal area; AM and PM lines thin, black, double; diffuse black band runs across median area; reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots rimmed with black; terminal area dark gray with several black dashes; hindwing grayish-brown basally with broad dark terminal band and slightly paler fringe; top of head and thorax blackish
Larva: green to pink and perhaps other colors, matching hostplant. Smooth, elongate, broadest though middle of body (A1-A6); pale middorsal and subdorsal stripes doubled with ground color darkened between. Two supraspiracular stripes, the uppermost broken, poorly developed, or absent. Prominent white spiracular stripe; upper edge ill-defined, passing through spiracles; lower edge sharply defined. Area between supraspiracular and spiracular stripe sometimes filled with white. Setae short, only 2x height of spiracle, inconspicuous. Spiracles tan with black rim. Third stemma (that closest to the antennal base) enlarged. Prepupal larvae turn pale green prior to pupation.
[larva description by David Wagner
et al, taken from
this U. of Connecticut page]
Range
apparently widespread but with seemingly patchy distribution: Internet records from Alberta, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Ontario, Manitoba, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Wisconsin
Habitat
roadsides, rocky outcrops, sandy beaches, and other open habitats; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly in August and September
larvae in early summer
Food
larvae feed on
Hairy Beardtongue (
Penstemon hirsutus) and other beardtongue species
Life Cycle
overwinters as an egg; larva feeds in early summer, then tunnels underground to pupate, and stays in its cell unitl late summer when adult emerges; one generation per year
Remarks
Apparently an uncommon and/or local species. Status in Ontario is "S3?". Its name appears in a
PDF doc listing "Species in Greatest Need of Conservation" in Illinois.
"Saunders' Oncocnemis has not been seen in Connecticut for more than 50 years" - quote from article by David Wagner
et al hereInternet References
species page (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult image by G.G. Anweiler, plus flight season and collection site map (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
pinned adult images and collection site map (All-Leps)
description of larva plus common name reference, foodplants, habitat, distribution, seasonality, biology (David Wagner
et al, U. of Connecticut)
status in Ontario - listed as "S3?" (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
presence in Michigan and Wisconsin plus locality, dates, foodplants (Lepidopterists Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)
distribution list of boundary states/provinces (Dalton State College, Georgia)
presence in New York; list (Timothy McCabe, Olive Natural Heritage Society)
presence in Florida; list (John Heppner, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
