Species Abagrotis discoidalis - Hodges#11035

11035

Abagrotis discoidalis (Grote, 1876)

Agrotis discoidalis Grote, 1876

FW length: 13-17 mm (1); wingspan: ~33 mm. (2)

Can be easily separated from other species of Abagrotis by the dark streak passing through the orbicular and reniform spots, and in particular by the black filling in the space between the two spots (3).

"Larva light gray above the spiracular line with paler middorsal and subdorsal lines. There is a series of dark diffuse segmental subdorsal markings that become black along their lower edges. The spiracles are blackish brown with brown rims. The head is pale with darker coronal stripes and maculations" (4).

A western species, ranging from the dry interior of WA , OR and CA, east to n. AZ and NM, CO and north into southern AB (3). MPG includes additional records from ID, UT, NV, and BC (2). Also known from MT (4).

Dry prairie grassland with their hostplant present (3).

Primarily May to early October (1) (2) (4).

Appears to be a foodplant specialist feeding on greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) in the Chenopodiaceae (1) (3) (5).

Grote, A.R. 1876. On Noctuidae from the Pacific Coast of North America. Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. 3: 82, pl. 4, fig. 9.

Moth Photographers Group (MPG) (2)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (6)

Species page at E.H. Strickland Museum (7)

Species page at Pacific Northwest Moths (1)