Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Arachnis picta Packard, 1864
* phylogenetic sequence #930327
Explanation of Names
picta is Latin for "painted".
Size
Forewing length 19-25 mm.
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Identification
Larva - covered in dense black and cinnamon-colored bristles.
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Egg - hemispherical, shiny pearl-colored.
(2)Range
Central and southern California to Colorado, south to western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
(1)Season
Adults fly June to October. In Arizona the larvae go into prepupal diapause during the dry season, from the end of the monsoons (September) until spring.
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(1)Food
Larvae are generalists of low herbacious plants.
(2)Life Cycle
Eggs laid in large, equally spaced massses up to 200. Larvae are primarily nocturnal. Adults do not feed.
(2)See Also
Bruce Walsh on the four species of Arachnis present in southeastern Arizona:
Arachnis picta - the most common.
Arachnis nedyma - a pale version of picta. While picta flies after the monsoons in the desert mountain ranges, nedyma is a rarer pre-monsoon flier in just a few of the ranges in SE Arizona and at elevation (over 6000 feet).
Arachnis aulaea - has a much darker (almost black) hindwing relative to picta. Flies just at the start of the monsoons, and typically a little lower in elevation (around 4000-6000 feet).
Arachnis zuni - truly spectacular, much larger (and more colorful) than picta. Rare, again a pre-monsoon flier at elevation.
Print References
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. p.270, pl.47.29-30
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