Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Semiothisa californiaria
described in 1871 by Packard, who originally placed it in genus Macaria
Size
wingspan 22-29 mm, based on six Internet photos
Identification
Adult: forewing whitish to pale brown with sparse dark speckling; small black patches along costa represent upper ends of AM, median, and PM lines, which are otherwise missing or faint; broken dark patch about one-third distance from costa along PM line; some individual have slightly darker shading beyond PM line; hindwing color similar to forewing but with small discal spot as its only marking
Range
Texas to California, north to Alberta and British Columbia
Habitat
prairie badlands (in Alberta); adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from March to October in California (2 broods); possibly all year in Texas
Food
larvae feed on
Big Deervetch (
Lotus crassifolius) on the west coast, and presumably other legumes in the interior where Big Deervetch does not occur
Life Cycle
two generations per year in Alberta; perhaps more in the south
See Also
Digrammia parcata forewing has smaller and fainter markings, and broken dark patch about one-half distance from costa along PM line (
see photo from Arizona by Bruce Walsh)