Species Peridroma saucia - Variegated Cutworm - Hodges#10915

10915

Pearly Underwing

Ver-gris panaché - En français… Ilze V-G.

Peridroma saucia (Hübner, [1808])

Noctua saucia Hübner, [1808]

Lycophotia ochronota Hampson, 1903

Lycophotia saucia ab. fuscobrunnea

Agrotis saucia var. tenebricosa Schawerda, 1929

Peridroma saucia f. juncta Lempke, 1962

Peridroma chilenaria Angulo & Jena-Saenz, 1984

some older synonyms not listed

Phylogenetic sequence # 933211 (1)

The only species in this genus in America north of Mexico. (1)

Wingspan 45-56 mm.

Adult: forewing ground color variably tan, light brown, dark brown, or reddish-brown; costa - from base to two-thirds its length - has 7 short black marks, the first 4 and last 2 are in pairs (a distinctive feature); claviform spot outlined in black, filled with ground color; orbicular spot usually pale and contrasting with dark reniform spot; hindwing has large pearly gray central area.

Larva: look for a series of yellow or whitish-yellow spots along the middle of the back.

Specimens identified by DNA analysis:

Genitalia:

In North America: all of United States and coast to coast in southern Canada. (2), (2)

Also occurs throughout Eurasia, parts of northern Africa, and the Middle East

Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.

Most records are March through November, but adults have been found year round in southern states.

Eggs, hatchlings, Larva, larva with parasite eggs, pupa, pupa, adult:

Considered invasive in this country. (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests. The Pattern of Invasion. American Entomologist. Spring 2002)

Reaper Dart Moth - Euxoa messoria

Lafontaine, J.D. 2004. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 27.1. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation. p.34; pl.A.1-6 (3)

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. plate 56, fig. 31; p. 307. (4)

Pacific Northwest Moths (5)

Moth Photographers Group (6)

Moths of North Dakota

E.H. Strickland Museum

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (7)

presence in California; list of 45 specimens with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)

distribution in Canada; list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)