Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Leucania phragmitidicola Guenée, 1852
Cirphis phragmitidicola
Explanation of Names
specific epithet refers to the tall reed
Phragmites, presumably a larval foodplant
Size
wingspan about 32 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: forewing light tan but not uniformly-colored: an indistinct and diffuse pale band runs obliquely from apex to inner margin, surrounded on both sides by slightly darker shading; PM line composed of several dark but inconspicuous dots; main vein running from base to middle of wing is whitish, bordered by thick dark line on inner edge; slightly darker shading along outer margin; hindwing white with no dark border
Genitalia:
♀
♂
Larvae: see Godfrey, 1972, p. 94
(2) & Wagner, 2011, p. 509
(3)Range
eastern two-thirds of North America
Season
adults fly from June to October
Food
larvae feed on grasses, presumably including
Phragmites species
See Also
Leucania linda forewing darker; PM line composed of well-defined crescent of conspicuous black dots
L. linita forewing uniformly-colored; main vein not conspicuously dark-edged
Lesser Wainscot (
Mythimna oxygala) forewing uniformly-colored; main vein not conspicuously dark-edged; PM line composed of two dark dots - not several
Scirpus Wainscot (
Leucania scirpicola) has not been recorded in Canada, according to CBIF
other species of Leucania have multiple dark/blackish streaks on forewing, absent in L. phragmitidicola
Print References
Guenée, 1852 in Boisduval & Guenée,
Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptéres. Tome Cinquiéme. Noctuélites. Tome 1. 5(1):
89
Hampson, G.F. 1905.
Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ in the British Museum. 5:
483
Smith, J.B. 1903. Contributions toward a monograph of the Lepidopterous Family Noctuidae of boreal North America. A revision of the moths referred to the genus
Leucania with descriptions of new species. No. 1283.
Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 25:
197.
Walker, F.W. 1856. Noctuidae.
List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. 9:
97