Other Common Names
The above common name proposal is based on the meaning of the species epithet, and provides a similarly-named "partner" for the Doubtful Apamea (Apamea dubitans), formerly considered conspecific with this one. There is already a moth named The Thinker (Lacinipolia meditata).
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Apamea cogitata (Smith, 1891)
Xylophasia cogitata Smith, 1891
Agroperina cogitata Hampson, 1908
Apamea dubitans cogitata
Explanation of Names
COGITATA: from the Latin "cogitare" (to think)
Identification
forewing reddish-brown, darker in subterminal area; reniform spot pale yellow or whitish with dark line running through it; orbicular spot oval, diagonal, with faint whitish outline; subterminal line thin, pale, jagged, indistinct; series of whitish dots along costa and outer margin
hindwing grayish, darker toward margins, with blackish veins and terminal line; fringe brownish-yellow
Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia and Northwest Territories, plus adjacent parts of United States, south in the west to California
Season
adults fly from June to August or early September
Food
larvae may feed on grasses? (McGill U.)
See Also
Apamea dubitans is similar but its forewing is dark chocolate brown usually with no hint of red (
compare images of both species)
Print References
Hampson, G.F. 1908.
Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ in the British museum. 7:
399
Smith, J.B. 1891. Contributions toward a monograph of the Noctuidae of temperate North America. Revision of the species of Hadena referable to
Xylophasia and
Luperina.
Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 13(839):
421
Smith, J.B. 1810. Notes on North American species of
Agroperina Hampson.
Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 18(3):
139