Clickable Guide

Interactive image map to choose major taxa

Calendar

Upcoming Events

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Cutworm or Dart Moths (Noctuinae) » Leucaniini » Leucania » Ursula Wainscot - Hodges#10461 (Leucania ursula)

Species Leucania ursula - Ursula Wainscot - Hodges#10461

Leucania ursula - Ursula Wainscot - Leucania ursula - male

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Subfamily Noctuinae (Cutworm or Dart Moths)

Tribe Leucaniini

Genus Leucania

Species ursula (Ursula Wainscot - Hodges#10461)

Hodges Number

10461

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

First described in 1936 by William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes as Cirphis ursula

Identification

forewing lacks streaking seen in several other Leucania species

Distinguished from L. inermis and L. pseudargyria by:

1. coarser/darker speckling on forewing

2. more distinct reniform spot, with gray area above and below it

3. more visible orbicular spot

4. faint gray triangle near forewing tip extends to edge of wing

(see link to comparison images below)

Genitalia:

Range

eastern two-thirds of US; restricted in Canada to Ontario and Quebec

Season

adults fly from April to September

Food

larvae feed on crab grass and honeysuckle

Remarks

In examining the Leucania at the Mississippi Entomological Museum, I have noticed that ursula has light brown palps, concolorous with the abdomen and wings whereas L. inermis and L. pseudargyria have dark brown, almost black palps. I do not know if this is a reliable trait, but it is what I go by. [Kyhl Austin]

Internet References

pinned adult image (CBIF)

pinned and live adult images (MPG)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 4 February, 2005 - 10:34am
Additional contributions by anitagould, Chuck Entz, marcie oconnor, JoAnneRusso, Kyhl Austin, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 18 September, 2023 - 10:39am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version