Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Digrammia irrorata (Packard, 1876)
Phasiane irrorata Packard, 1876
Semiothisa irrorata var. venosata McDunnough, 1939
Phylogenetic sequence # 189775
Identification
Adult: forewing color varies from light tan to yellowish to medium brown with straight, pale yellowish AM and PM lines; AM line stops just short of costa, and both lines may be indistinct in paler individuals; discal spot dark brown, conspicuous; veins in outer half of wing finely lined with pale yellow scales; males in particular usually have a series of poorly-defined dark spots or blotches in median area and across wing beyond PM line. Hindwing similarly colored but with no AM line, and smaller, less distinct discal spot (adapted from description at U. of Alberta).
Range
Western United States and southwestern Canada.
(1),
(2)Habitat
Shrubby areas along river valleys, arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Season
Adults fly from March to June in northern regions. Several broods in the south.
See Also
Digrammia neptaria, the yellow PM line is usually lined with reddish-brown inner border and a blackish outer border.
(3)
Print References
Ferguson, D. C. 2008. Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 17.2, p.315, pl.8.8-12
(3)
Packard, A. S. 1876. Monograph of the geometrid moths or Phalaenidae of the United States. USGS Surv. Territ. 10:
273, pl.
10, f. 7
Internet References
distribution in Canada showing BC only, but also occurs in Alberta (CBIF)
pinned adult images of three specimens showing range of color and pattern (CBIF)