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Species Drasteria fumosa - Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629

Drasteria of some kind - Drasteria fumosa

Drasteria pallescens? - Drasteria fumosa

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 Erebidae

Subfamily Erebinae

Tribe Melipotini

Genus Drasteria

Species fumosa (Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629)

Hodges Number

8629

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Drasteria fumosa (Strecker, 1898)

Syneda fumosa Strecker, 1898

Melipotis brunneifasciata Barnes & McDunnough, 1916

* phylogenetic sequence #930901

Explanation of Names

FUMOSA: from the Latin "fumosus" (smoky); probably refers to the color of the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Smoky Arches [the name "Arches" is used for conformity with some other species in the genus]

Identification

Adult: forewing basal and PM areas dark gray to blackish; PM line highly convoluted, merging with outer edge of large reniform spot, as in other Drasteria species; subterminal area lighter gray; median area variably light grayish-brown to brownish-orange; top of thorax light brownish-gray with two dark subdorsal lines behind collar; hindwing whitish to pale gray on basal two-thirds, contrasting sharply with dark gray distal third.

Range

California east to Utah and Texas.

Habitat

Oak woodlands.

Season

Adults fly in summer.

Print References

Barnes, W. & J. H. McDunnough 1916. New species and varieties of North American Lepidoptera. Contr. nat. Hist. Lep. N. Am. 3(1): 17, pl.1, f.4. (1)

Strecker, H. 1898. New species of Lepidoptera. Lep. Rhopal. Het., Suppl. 1: 12

Internet References

Moth Photohraphers Group (2)

Works Cited

1.	New species and varieties of North American Lepidopter William Barnes & James H. McDunnough. 1916. Contributions to the Natural History of the Lepidoptera of North America, Volume 3, Issue 1.

2.	North American Moth Photographers Group

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 1 May, 2006 - 4:56pm
Additional contributions by Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy, Steve Morris
Last updated 3 August, 2023 - 9:17am

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