Species Lesmone detrahens - Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651

8651

Lesmone detrahens (Walker, 1858)

Poaphila detrahens Walker, 1858

one of 5 species in this genus in North America listed

wingspan 27-31 mm (1)

Adult: forewing dark purplish-gray to brown with pointed apex; lines darker but often inconspicuous; PM line fine, sharply bent just below costa; ST line broad, dark gray, straight on basal side, irregular on outer side with broad tooth at about mid-point; paler strip between PM and ST lines; pattern less distinct in female; hindwing with similar color and pattern but apex not pointed

Eastern USA to central TX.

Type locality: FL

mostly: Apr-Sep (BG data)

larval foodplant unrecorded but might be various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae); the related species Lesmone formularis is known to feed on Cassia species and sensitive plant (Mimosa spp.)

Lesmone griseipennis is not found east of western TX. "In the males the st line is barely visible and the contrast between the light and dark st shade subdued in detrahens. The females are darker and the ordinary lines obscure in detrahens compared to griseipenni.", Jim Vargo, pers. comm. 11/11/2017.

Lesmone aenaria is not found north of southern TX.

Walker, F. 1858. Noctuidae. List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. 15: 1834

Moth Photographers Group - MPG (2)

pinned adult image - CBIF

pinned adult images of 2 males and 1 female - Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona

distribution in Canada - Quebec only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (3)