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Photo#225182
dark-spot moth - Diarsia jucunda

dark-spot moth - Diarsia jucunda
Sainte-Anne des Monts, La Haute Gaspesie County, Quebec, Canada
August 16, 2008
Came to light. The dark lines on the hindwing seem unusual.

Diarsia jucunda
Moved from Owlet Moths to Smaller Pinkish Dart.

Thanks to Jeff Crolla (Lep. Soc. Coordinator for ON/QC) for identification. He said that about half of all individuals lack a dark patch between reniform and orbicular spots. The diffuse gray lines on the hindwing show up in this photo at CBIF.

Maybe Noctua comes?
The Lesser Yellow Underwing. As you may know there is a very wide range of possibilities for this species. This is a total guess, as I am looking at images trying to ID something similar!

 
Same tribe (Noctuini)
but Noctua comes has a yellow hindwing and is currently restricted to the west coast.

 
Thanks, Robin!
Your photo is superb, and I appreciate the information and links! I've been trying for some time to identify a similar moth species, but am confused by the variations. Some of the more attractive ones are pinkish to orange with markings very similar to these.

Do you happen to know if there is a big difference in appearance between males and females? I hope that's not too foolish a question, most of my knowledge derives from the comments I read here - I don't have a background in biology or entomology, and I don't see moths being sexed very often. Probably in some families there would be a big difference in antennas, but probably not in this one, I'd guess.

 
Sometimes there's differences
between the sexes in some species of Noctuinae, but usually not. The antennae are most often filiform (thread-like) in both sexes. Depending on species, the female may have less conspicuous markings on the forewing, and a darker/grayer hindwing than the male, but I think those differences are the exception rather than the rule.

 
Thanks, Robin! Coincidentally...
Coincidentally...I was just identifying Noctua pronuba, and in the process came across a comment that N. pronuba displayed sexual dimorphism, possibly the same as you describe. Your comments and theirs should help prevent me from not recognizing members of the same species, but different sexes. ...Well...Combined with a lot more experience!

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