Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1882 by Grote
Identification
Adult: forewing dull grayish-brown with central and basal areas paler than leading and trailing edges; reniform and orbicular spots large, filled with light brown scales and partially outlined with black; inner margin (trailing edge of forewing) narrowly bordered with black scales, widening toward outer margin and forming small curved crescent mark before reaching anal angle; dark brownish shading along costa and heavy black lines along inner margin are most conspicuous features; hindwing dull white with broad sooty brown marginal band; veins finely lined with brown scales [adapted from description at U. of Alberta]
Larva: body with 6 black continuous lines bordering 5 lateral stripes that are green, yellow, or white; head greenish-white with numerous large black freckles (see detailed description and closeup photos in
PDF doc)
Range
widespread in northern Great Plains and western mountains: British Columbia and Washington east to Manitoba and Minnesota, south through mountains to Arizona and western Texas; absent from Oregon and California
Season
adults fly in July and August
Food
Larvae feed on Asteraceae, including
Puget Sound Gumweed (
Grindelia integrifolia) and
rabbitbrush (
Chrysothamnus spp.)
Life Cycle
one generation per year; pupation occurs underground in a tough cocoon
See Also
adult
Goldenrod Hooded Owlet (
Cucullia asteroides) is most similar but is not found west of Saskatchewan, and forewing lacks bold black lines along inner margin (
compare images of these and related western species at CBIF)
Internet References
pinned adult image by G.G. Anweiler, plus habitat, flight season, description, larval foodplants, distribution (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
common name reference plus description, distribution, larval foodplants (Gerald Fauske, Moths of North Dakota)
pinned adult image (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
8 pinned adult images and collection site map showing presence in Washington and British Columbia (All-Leps)
live larva and adult images plus other info (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
description and live photos of larva; PDF doc (J.C. Petit and M.C. Petit, Journal of the Lepidopterists Society, courtesy Yale U.)
larval foodplants and literature references (Markku Savela, FUNET)
distribution in Canada; list of provinces of occurrence (CBIF)
