Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Hahncappsia pergilvalis Hulst, 1886
Botis pergilvalis Hulst, 1886
Loxostege pergilvalis
Identification
Adult: forewing light yellowish-tan with brown AM, PM, and ST lines; brown orbicular and reniform spots; AM line arc-shaped with noticeable curving jog near inner margin; PM line wavy, irregular, with abrupt basal jog in lower half; ST line straight, diffuse, darker at both ends and faded near middle; hindwing slightly paler, semi-transparent, with partial PM line
Range
Ontario and northeastern states (DE, IA, IL, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV) plus southwestern states (AZ, CA, TX) and perhaps states in between but no records were found on the Internet as of June 2008); type specimen collected in Arizona
Season
adults fly from May to September
Food
larvae possibly feed on corn but no confirmed records available
See Also
In other
Hahncappsia species, forewing orbicular and reniform spots are less noticeable and subterminal line is of uniform weight, not faded near middle (
compare images of several species by Jim Vargo at MPG)
Hahncappsia coloradensis: "Postmedial and subterminal lines are present on the hindwing of pergilvalis and are absent in coloradensis"
(1)
H. mancalis is similar to
H. pergilvalis, but tends to have a much stronger and straighter subterminal line on the forewing.
The
H. marculenta/neomarculenta/neobliteralis complex has more diffuse markings and tends to be more translucent yellow, and the subterminal line of the
hindwing is further from the outer margin
(1).
Print References
Capps, H W. 1967. Review of some species of Loxostege (Hübner) and descriptions of new species (Lepidoptera, Pyraustidae: Pyrausinae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 120(3361):
24 (1)Internet References
Images and Info at Moth Photographers Group
Images and Info at Barcoding Life
pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus dates, locations, distribution, and possible larval foodplant (Larry Line, Maryland)
presence in Arizona; list (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
presence in California; list of 1 specimen record with date and location (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution map plus possible larval foodplant, type specimen locality, and references (Markku Savela, FUNET)
