Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
the former Graphiphora haruspica is now considered subspecies G. augur haruspica (Kononenko, Lafontaine, and Mikkola, 1989)
Explanation of Names
AUGUR: Latin word used as a noun or verb
n. 1. among the Romans, a priest who foretold future events by interpreting omens, as the motion of birds in flight or the appearance of the entrails of sacrificial animals. Augurs carried a staff or wand, and were held in great respect.
n. 2. a fortuneteller; prophet; soothsayer
v. to predict; foretell; prognosticate
[Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1983]
I don't know the significance of this name.
Numbers
the only species in this genus in North America
Identification
Adult: forewing color varies from medium to dark brown or grayish with obscure markings and darker shading in terminal area; reniform spot partly filled with black; reniform and orbicular spot incompletely outlined in black; PM line scalloped, poorly defined, sometimes reduced to series of small dots
hindwing paler brown with darker veining and small weak discal spot
Larva: yellowish-tan to dark brown, almost hairless, with dorsolateral and lateral rows of small white spots; head dark brown
Range
all of Canada, including NT and YK (and presumably Alaska), and mostly northern United States, south in the west to California and New Mexico
also occurs throughout Eurasia (British Isles and Scandinavia to Japan)
Habitat
wide variety of habitats (deciduous woodlands, scrublands, hedgerows, marshes and fens); adults attracted to light in small numbers
Season
adults fly in June and July (sometimes to mid-August, and one September record from Europe)
larvae present from August to April of following year
Food
larvae feed on leaves of birch, hawthorn, honeysuckle, lilac, poplar, raspberry, rose, willow
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as a larva
Larva; larva; adult
Internet References
live and pinned adult images plus common name reference [Double Dart], habitat, food plants, and flight season (Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland)
live adult and larva images and common name reference [The Soothsayer] (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of southern Vancouver Island)
live adult images by Jens Christian Schou, Denmark, and Chris Steeman, Belgium, plus food plants (Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa)
synonyms and subspecies (Markku Savela, FUNET)
