Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Litoprosopus Grote, 1869
"Zahiri et al. (2013) showed through DNA sequence results that a number of subfamilies and genera formerly associated with
the Erebidae were basal lineages of the Noctuidae, including the subfamily Dyopsinae. Recent molecular results by Zahiri and associates show a close relationship
between Dyops Guenée and Litoprosopus Grote. [Contributed by Reza Zahiri]" (Lafontaine & Schmidt 2015)
Lafontaine JD, Schmidt BC (2015) Additions and corrections to the check list of the Noctuoidea
(Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. ZooKeys 27:127–147. doi:
10.3897/zookeys.527.6151
Numbers
5 species in North America listed at
All-LepsSize
wingspan 40-48 mm in L. futilis
larva length to about 40 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing pale gray or tan to orangish or brown with broken/inconspicuous lines and spots; hindwing with large and/or conspicuous spots near anal angle
Larva of L. futilis: head and cervical shield black; body pale pink with sparse long white hairs protruding from black tubercles on each abdominal segment; spiracles black
Range
southern United States: North Carolina to Florida, west to California
also represented in Central and South America
Habitat
on or near larval foodplants (various species of palm)
Season
adults of L. futilis fly year-round in the far south; from June to September in North Carolina
larvae present in spring
Food
larvae feed on buds and leaves of palm trees in the genera
Sabal, Serenoa, and
Washingtonia
large larvae sometimes eat smaller larvae of the same species
Remarks
larvae regurgitate when disturbed, and the discharged material appears to deter some predators
Internet References
live and pinned adult images of
L. futilis by Jim Escoffier and Jim Vargo respectively (Moth Photographers Group)
live adult images of
L. futilis by Randy Newman (North Carolina State Park System)
pinned adult image of
L. coachella (California Dept. of Food and Agriculture)
pinned adult image of
L. coachella (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
illustrated overview of
L. futilis, including description, foodplants, damage, control methods, references (G.W. Dekle, U. of Florida "Featured Creatures")
presence in Texas; list of
L. futilis (Texas A&M U.)
presence in California; list of
L. coachella (U. of California at Berkeley)
