Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Agriphila ruricolellus – (Zeller, 1863)
* Phylogenetic sequence #279900.
Identification
Adult: forewing pale yellowish with reddish-brown speckling between veins, giving a streaked appearance to the wing; median line represented by a diagonal smear or diffuse smudge (sometimes faint) across veins; subterminal (ST) line indistinct and incomplete but usually visible; terminal line composed of seven black evenly-spaced dots; fringe scales gold or silvery, usually with black base.
Range
Quebec and Maine to South Carolina, west to Arizona, north to Alberta.
Habitat
Grasslands, weedy areas, fields, cultivated land.
Season
Adults fly from July to September. Brimley
(1) lists for August in North Carolina mountains.
Food
Larvae feed on grasses and
Common Sheep Sorrel (
Rumex acetosella).
Life Cycle
One generation per year; overwinters as an immature larva.
See Also
Vagabond Crambus (
Agriphila vulgivagella) is larger and forewing lacks diagonal lines or smears crossing the veins
Cranberry Girdler (
Chrysoteuchia topiaria) forewing has distinct ST line, and terminal line is solid near apex, rather than consisting entirely of separate black dots
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - collection map and pinned adults.
pinned adult image plus habitat, flight season, description, food plants, distribution (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
large adult image by C.D. Bird that goes with the above U. of Alberta link [the thumbnail image in that link doesn't enlarge]
pinned adult image (Larry Line, Maryland)
presence in Arizona; list (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)