Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Diachrysia aereoides (Grote, 1864)
Plusia aereoides Grote, 1864
Phytometra aereoides
* phylogenetic sequence #931178
* species epithet misspelled aeroides in Eichlin & Cunningham (1978).
Size
forewing length 17-18 mm (Pogue, 2005)
(1)Identification
Adults - forewing orangish-brown with pink tint; AM and PM lines parallel, almost straight; reniform and orbicular spots with distinct dark outlines; yellowish-gold band in subterminal area extends from inner margin, stopping just short of costa.
Range
Newfoundland to North Carolina, west to northern California, north to British Columbia (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Habitat
Woodland clearings and edges in damp areas where foodplants grow; adults nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of asters, mint, meadowsweet (Spiraea spp.), and other herbaceous or woody plants; probably a general feeder (E.H. Strickland Museum).
See Also
Unspotted Looper (
Allagrapha aerea) has curved or wavy lines, no distinct orbicular or reniform spot, and is usually darker brown (
compare images of both species).
Print References
Eichlin, T. D. & H. B. Cunningham 1978. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of America north of Mexico, emphasizing genitalic and larval morphology. USDA Tech. Bulletin 1567: 1-122 (
PDF)
(2)
Grote, A. R. 1864. Descriptions of North American Lepidoptera, no. 3 Proc. Ent. Soc. Philadelphia 3:
83
Lafontaine, J. D. & R. W. Poole 1991. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 25.1: p.61; pl.1.25
Pogue, M. G. 2005. The Plusiinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zootaxa 1032: 1–28 (
PDF)
(1)
Internet References
live adult images (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
pinned adult image (John Glaser, Maryland)
pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
North American distribution map and references (Markku Savela, FUNET)