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Possible 2026 BugGuide gathering in Texas?

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

Species Pseudeva purpurigera - Straight-lined Looper - Hodges#8899

Straight-lined Looper - top view - Pseudeva purpurigera

Noctuidae: Pseudeva purpurigera - Pseudeva purpurigera

Pseudeva purpurigera with shelter?? - Pseudeva purpurigera

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 Plusiinae (Looper Moths)

Tribe Plusiini

Subtribe Euchalciina

Genus Pseudeva

Species purpurigera (Straight-lined Looper - Hodges#8899)

Hodges Number

8899

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Pseudeva purpurigera (Walker, 1858)

Deva purpurigera Walker, 1858

Panchrysia purpurigera

* phylogenetic sequence #931184

Size

forewing length 14-16 mm (Pogue, 2005)(1)

Identification

Range

Alberta east to the Maritime Provinces, and discontinuously southward to Colorado, New Mexico, and eastern Arizona (Powell & Opler, 2009).(2)

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, edges, and meadows; adults are nocturnal and come to light (E.H. Strickland Museum).

Season

Adults fly in July and August in Alberta; June to September in Ohio.

Food

Larvae feed on Early Meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum) and Tall Meadow-rue (T. pubescens) AKA King of the Meadow. Also Thalictrum dasycarpum

Life Cycle

Larva; larva; prepupal; adult

Print References

Eichlin, T. D. & H. B. Cunningham 1978. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology. USDA Tech. Bulletin 1567: 1-122 (PDF)(3)

Hampson, G. F. 1913. Noctuidae. Cat. Lepid. Phalaenae Br. Mus. 13: 448

Lafontaine, J. D. & R. W. Poole 1991. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 25.1: p.69; pl.1.37-38

Pogue, M. G. 2005. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zootaxa 1032: 1–28 (PDF)(1)

Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl.49.31m; p.278(2)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group

larva feeding on Meadow Rue (Sam Jaffe)

Pacific Northwest Moths

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

iNaturalist

Moths of North Carolina

Works Cited

1.	The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Michael G, Pogue. 2005. Magnolia Press Zootaxa 1032: 1–28.

2.	Moths of Western North America Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.

3.	The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology Thomas D. Eichlin, Hugh B. Cunningham. 1978. United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 1567: 1-121.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 12 July, 2008 - 12:50pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2, marcie oconnor, Randy Hardy
Last updated 25 December, 2025 - 4:46pm

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