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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Sympistis heliophila - Hodges#10156

Sympistis heliophila Sympistis heliophila  - Sympistis heliophila
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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 Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily Oncocnemidinae
Genus Sympistis
Species heliophila (Sympistis heliophila - Hodges#10156)
Hodges Number
10156
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Sympistis heliophila (Paykull, 1793) (1)
Noctua heliophila Paykull, 1793
Noctua melaleuca Thunberg, 1791
Phalaena (Noctua) leucoptera Esper, 1798
Phylogenetic sequence # 931930 (1)
Size
Forewing length 9-11 mm (2)
Identification
Detailed description: (2)
Specimen identified by Lars Crabo.
Range
Holarctic, occurring around the world across the subarctic regions. (2)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Habitat
Occurs in dry shrubland and open forests. (2)
Season
Most records are from June to August. (3)
Food
Larval hosts include: (2)
Empetrum L. sp. (crowberry)
Vaccinium L. sp. (dwarf huckleberries)
Adults take nectar at the blooms. (2)
Remarks
Day-flying moth (diurnal). (2)
See Also
Sympistis zetterstedtii with the forewing appearing smoother with less boldly and sharply defined markings. The hindwing has much more black at the base and along the inner margin.
Print References
Lafontaine J.D. & B.C. Schmidt 2010. Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. ZooKeys 40: 59-64. (1)
Lafontaine, J.D. & BC. Schmidt 2013. Additions and corrections to the check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. ZooKeys 264: 230, 234. (4)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. plate 51, fig. 31; p. 286.(5)
Schmett, D. 1798. Bd. 2 (Abs. 2) (49-50): p. 32.