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Genus Aseptis

Aseptis binotata 1736 Aseptis binotata (= genetrix) - Rusty Shoulder Knot 9532 - Aseptis binotata Unknown Noctuid - Aseptis binotata Needs a Page..Aseptis fanatica Mustelin 9531.1 (can go to MPG too) - Aseptis fanatica Aseptis characta Rusty Shoulder Knot Moth - Aseptis binotata Aseptis catalina? - Aseptis catalina Cryphia sp. - Aseptis pseudolichena
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
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 Noctuinae (Cutworm or Dart Moths)
Tribe Xylenini
Subtribe Xylenina
Genus Aseptis
Numbers
Lafontaine & Schmidt (2010) listed 24 Aseptis species in America north of Mexico.(1)
Size
wingspan 27-37 mm, based on 9 Internet images
Identification
Adult: forewing color and pattern varies among species from pale to dark and from a prominently contrasting pattern to almost unmarked; a pale spot on the distal side of the reniform spot is present in a number of species, as is an irregular subterminal line, a dotted terminal line (with checkered fringe), and pale dots along the costa; AM and PM lines, and reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots vary from distinct to faint; hindwing generally dirty brownish-gray with diffuse discal spot; outer margin with shallow sinus near apex in several species; fringe usually pale, sometimes checkered
small erect tufts of hair on the dorsal abdomen is characteristic of the genus but is not normally visible in photos of live individuals

Larva: body dark green dorsally, paler green ventrally, with white lateral line edged dorsally in red; faint whitish dorsal or subdorsal lines usually present; head green; details of color and pattern varies slightly among species
Range
western North America: British Columbia to California, east to Arizona, north to Manitoba; species diversity greatest in California, where at least 19 species occur
Habitat
western forests containing broadleaf trees and shrubs
Season
adults fly from April to August (varies by species)
larvae usually in May and June
Food
larvae feed on many species of broadleaf trees and shrubs, including Big-leaf Maple, Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor), Deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus), and Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata)
See Also
several species of Apamea are similar, as well as a number of genera in the subfamily Noctuinae
Print References
Lafontaine J.D. & B.C. Schmidt 2010. "Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico". (1)
Mustelin, T.; Crabo, L.G. 2015. "Revision of the genus Aseptis McDunnough (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Xylenini) with a description of two new genera, Paraseptis and Viridiseptis". ZooKeys, 527: 57-102 (2).
Internet References
pinned adult images of 4 species in Canada (CBIF)
presence in Arizona of 5 species, with links to images (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
live larva images of A. binotata and A. fumosa plus description, foodplants, seasonality (Jeffrey Miller, Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
presence in California; list of 19 species, at least one undescribed (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution in Canada listing provinces of 4 species (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)