Species Cerastis enigmatica - Enigmatic Dart - Hodges#10995.2

10995.2

Cerastis enigmatica Lafontaine & Crabo, 1997 (1)

Phylogenetic sequence # 933540 (2)

the suggested common name of Enigmatic Dart is based on the specific epithet; perhaps this moth was an enigma to early taxonomists until it was described and differentiated from similar species in 1997, but this is speculation

wingspan about 33 mm, based on photo of specimen by Jeff Miller

Adult: forewing reddish-brown with pale yellowish-red subterminal area; orbicular and reniform spots fused together to form a large white-rimmed V-shaped spot; dark brown patches border three sides of fused spot; fringe pinkish; thoracic collar pale yellow, contrasting with dark brown remainder of thorax; hindwing light grayish-yellow with pink tint

Specimens identified by DNA analysis:

British Columbia to California

wet west coast forests

adults fly in early spring

larvae feed on leaves of Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Willow Dart (Cerastis salicarum) forewing has a V-shaped median line and slender black clavicular spot

Catocaline Dart (Cryptocala acadiensis) forewing has a black terminal band, an "open" orbicular spot that fuses with the costa, and its hindwing is black with a large yellow patch

(compare images of all three species at CBIF)

Cerastis gloriosa is larger and its forewing has fused white discal spots

Stretchia muricina median area of forewing is completely dark reddish-gray, orbicular spot is "open" and fused with costa; and thorax lacks a yellow collar

Crabo, L. & J.D. Lafontaine. 1997. A revision of the cornuta group of Cerastis subgenus Metalepsis (Noctuidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 51 :237-248. (1)

Lafontaine, J.D., 1998. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 27.3. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, p. 44; pl. 1.26-27. (3)

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, pl. 58, fig. 10; p. 313. (4)

Pacific Northwest Moths (5)

Moth Photographers Group (6)

pinned adult image plus description, habitat, distribution, flight season, foodplant, similar species (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, USGS)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (7)