Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
original combination
Selidosema foeminaria Guenée, 1857
(1)Identification
Adult: male antennae pectinate (feathery); forewing brown or brownish-gray speckled with black; discal spot tiny, black, sometimes white-margined; subterminal area usually with line of black dots or dark shading; numerous short dark perpendicular streaks along costa; terminal line composed of several black dots, sometimes lacking; apex pointed, may be slightly falcate (i.e. outer margin concave near tip) in some individuals; thorax same color as forewing
hindwing color varies from slightly lighter than forewing to pale brownish-white, and either heavily or sparsely speckled; fringes of all wings light to medium brown or gray
Larva: body light green with several thin whitish dorsal stripes; lateral stripe yellow with ragged edges; spiracles orange
Range
Utah to California, north to British Columbia
Habitat
forest edges and clearings containing larval food plant; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
adults fly in spring
larvae from June to August
Food
larvae feed only on leaves of New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus spp.)
See Also
Apodrepanulatrix litaria is similar but slightly larger [wingspan 31-34 mm] with dark hindwings, and flies in late summer and fall (see
live adult image and
two pinned specimens)
Drepanulatrix monicaria, which overlaps widely in CA.
Also see other other
Drepanulatrix species, and other genera in the
tribe Caberini.
Internet References
pinned adult image plus description, food plants, flight season, similar species (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
pinned adult images of three specimens, showing variation in color and pattern (CBIF)
live larva image plus description, food plant, seasonality (Oregon State U.)
presence in Utah; list (Joel Johnson, Utah Lepidopterists Society)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
