Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Desmia funeralis (Hübner)
Desmia maculalis Westwood, 1831
Size
D. funeralis - Wingspan 21-28 mm
(1)
D. maculalis - Wingspan 18-24 mm
(1)Identification
See the Identification sections on the following pages.
Range
across southern United States to California, plus northeastern states and southeastern Canada
Habitat
Deciduous forests and edges
Food
Larvae feed on grape (Vitis spp.), Redbud (Cercis canadensis), and evening primrose (Oenothera spp).
Adults take nectar?
Life Cycle
two or three generations per year
Remarks
Day flying, but also comes to lights at night.
See Also
Several other
Desmia species occur in some areas (example:
Florida has 10 species) - see
pinned adult images of 6 species by Jim Vargo at MPG
Also note resemblance to
Forester moths (Owlet Moth family [Noctuidae], genus
Alypia). This is probably a mimicry complex, since these moths and the Foresters are day-flying. Perhaps they both are mimics of a wasp?
Print References
Covell, p. 400, plate 56 #11 & #14
(1)
Internet References
Desmia funeralis:
pinned adult image (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeast Arizona)
pinned and live adult images by various photographers (Moth Photographers Group)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
Desmia maculalis
live and pinned adult images by Randy Newman and Jim Vargo respectively (Moth Photographers Group)
live adult image showing closeup of white patch on top of head (Henderson State U., Arkansas)
pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus flight season (Larry Line, Maryland)
pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
3 pinned adult images and collection site map (All-Leps)
presence in Texas; list (James Gillaspy, U. of Texas)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
status and flight season in Ohio (Ohio State U.)
presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
