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Photo#689635
Withered Mocis Moth - Mocis marcida

Withered Mocis Moth - Mocis marcida
Dirk Bayer's Place, Baldwin County, Alabama, USA
July 27, 2012
gathering_2012 BugSwarm

Please see both Moth 23 & Moth 24. Pretty sure we have a Mocis here, but not 'zactly sure which one. Peterson lists M. latipes (Small) and M. texana (Texas), but when I look at other BG possibilities & MPG, it appears M. marcida (Withered) and M. disseverans Yellow) are also possibilities. These are looking most like M. marcida (Withered) to me. One (Moth 23) has black spots near inner margin, the other (Moth 24) does not, but seems to have light spot higher up on FW. From what I can tell, these are not diagnositic.

Any IDeas are most appreciated. Bob, whaddya think? It looks like you've seen all 4 possibilities in your area.

Images of this individual: tag all
Withered Mocis Moth - Mocis marcida Withered Mocis Moth - Mocis marcida

Moved
Moved from Mocis.

PM is diagnostic
Jon,
Notice the PM rises straight up towards the ML before reaching the inner margin, giving the appearance that it stops. It's very faint, but you can tell by the shading. While there are other diagnostic field marks, I have found this is reliable for a Withered Mocis.
Robert

 
Question
Hello, just one question, Those black dots on the inner margin of the wing, are in males or females?

 
I don't know
the answer to that question. Maybe Bob (Robert Zimlich) who is from the Gulf area, and is more familiar with these, might be able to tell you. I don't see any INFO that says this is an identifying characteristic of male or female. Thanks for checking it out.

 
Excellent!
I can see that. Thanks - I was getting bleary-eyed trying to make out differences in the Reniform Spot(s).

 
Keep a "notebook"
Jon,
I prefer a text file so I can copy'n'paste, but a spreadsheet also works well. I add hyperlinks to my spreadsheet. Also add personal info to the Identifier Line, so you can track later. You'll really appreciate this long before you have 6,000+ images :)

One other bit a advice - when you have a moth you don't recognise, physically describe it. It really didn't help me ID this Double-lined Brown Moth (wasn't even an owlet), but I will remember it the next time.
Robert