Genus Sthenopis

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

Hepialidae - Ghost Moths 0019 - Sthenopis purpurascens - male

unknown moth from northern Ontario - Sthenopis purpurascens

Silver-spotted Ghost Moth - Sthenopis argenteomaculatus

Hepialidae: Sthenopis purpurascens - Sthenopis purpurascens - female

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 Hepialoidea (Ghost Moths)

Family Hepialidae (Ghost Moths)

Genus Sthenopis

Numbers

5 species listed in North America (nearctica.com) but the total is reduced to 4 when S. quadriguttatus is removed [see Remarks section below]

Size

wingspan 50-100 mm

larvae to 60 mm

Identification

adult with very short antennae and no mouthparts (typical of family Hepialidae); forewing long with pointed apex, variably colored yellowish, brownish, or grayish, and usually with silver markings

Range

mostly northern United States and southern Canada; one species occurs north to Northwest Territories, and south to Arizona

Habitat

deciduous and mixed woodlands usually bordering or near water

Season

adults fly at dusk from June to August

Food

larvae bore in roots of trees

Life Cycle

development takes 1-2 years to complete; adults are short-lived and do not feed (they have no mouthparts)

Remarks

The species S. purpurascens has a purplish-gray form and a yellowish-brown form. Until recently the yellowish-brown form was thought to be a separate species, S. quadriguttatus. (see U. of Alberta reference)

Internet References

pinned adult image of S. purpurascens plus other info (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)

pinned adult image of "S. quadriguttatus", now recognized as the yellowish-brown form of S. purpurascens [see Remarks section above] plus other info (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)

pinned adult images of S. argenteomaculatus, auratus, and the yellowish-brown form of S. purpurascens, labelled "S. quadriguttatus" (Canadian Forest Service)

link to pinned adult image of S. thule, showing mostly whitish unmarked wings with only a strip of orange along costa of forewing (Insect Collecters Shoppe, Quebec)

live and pinned images, distribution, life cycle and systematics information (John Grehan)

Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 28 March, 2005 - 10:37pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, marcie oconnor
Last updated 11 April, 2016 - 10:02am

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