Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Lacinipolia cuneata - Cuneate Arches - Hodges#10371

Cuneate Arches - Lacinipolia cuneata Cuneate Arches Moth - Lacinipolia cuneata Cuneate Arches - Lacinipolia cuneata thank you Dick Wilson for thank you Dick Wilson for id rather take a beating than try to figure out these Lacinipolia - Lacinipolia cuneata 10371  Cuneate Arches - Lacinipolia cuneata - Lacinipolia cuneata Lacinipolia cuneata
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily Noctuinae (Cutworm or Dart Moths)
Tribe Eriopygini
Genus Lacinipolia
Species cuneata (Cuneate Arches - Hodges#10371)
Hodges Number
10371
Explanation of Names
CUNEATA: from the Latin "cuneatus" (wedge-shaped), from "cuneus" (a wedge); probably refers to the shape of the dark patch on the forewing
The common name suggested above follows the pattern of calling Lacinipolia species "Arches", and using the species epithet as a modifier
Size
wingspan about 30 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with large dark brown or blackish patch surrounding reniform and orbicular spots [patch is broad near costa, and narrows toward inner margin, giving overall wedge shape]; short black bar connects AM and PM lines near costa; black basal and anal dashes; small golden-yellow patch superimposed on anal dash is diagnostic when visible
hindwing dark brownish-gray with black veins

Larva; dark rosy brown dorsally with faint black chevrons; sides dark brown with barely discernible black semicircle on each abdominal segment; head dark gray with black markings
Range
British Columbia to California
Habitat
coastal forests (not in mountains)
Season
adults fly in spring and early summer
Food
Jeremy Tatum found an egg on Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) in July; larva was reared on dandelion, chickweed, and lettuce; probably feeds on leaves of various plants in nature
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as a larva; pupates in late winter or early spring; adults emerge in spring
See Also
Hada sutrina has a pale patch descending diagonally from the orbicular spot toward the inner margin, and lacks a golden yellow spot in anal angle area (compare images of both species)
Lacinipolia anguina, Lasionycta phaea, and Lasionycta skraelingia are similar but lack a golden yellow spot in anal angle area, and lack a basal and/or anal dash (compare images of all four species)