Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Pleromelloida cinerea (Smith, 1904)
Pleroma cinerea Smith, 1904
Phylogenetic sequence # 931780
Explanation of Names
CINEREA: from the Latin "cinereus" (ashy); probably refers to the pale "ash-gray" color of the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Ashy Pleromelloida
Numbers
Lafontaine & Schmidt (2010) listed 4 species of the genus
Pleromelloida in America north of Mexico.
(1)Size
Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length as 13-14 mm.
(2)Identification
Adult: forewing pale gray with contrasting black lines and conspicuous black streaks in subterminal area, especially near apex; paler spot near middle of wing at end of main vein; hindwing dirty whitish basally, shading to gray distally.
Determined by Gary Anweiler.
Range
British Columbia to southern California, and Colorado.
(3),
(4),
(2)Season
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the flight period of late August through early April.
(2)Food
Thw larval host plants include
Symphoricarpos albus (common snowberry), and
Lonicera subspicata Hook. & Arn. (southern honeysuckle).
(2)See Also
Pleromelloida bonuscula flies in spring, forewing is broader with darker shading and less contrasting lines, and hindwing is darker (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
P. conserta flies in spring, and forewing is slightly darker with less contrasting lines (see
comparison images of both species at U. of Alberta, using CBIF images)
Print References
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009.
Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, p. 285, pl. 51.16.
(2)
Smith, J.B., 1904. New species of noctuids for 1904 No. 2.
Psyche, 11:
56.
Internet References
distribution in Canada British Columbia only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
flight season and larval foodplants (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, USGS)
collection dates in California (U. of California at Berkeley)