Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Egira crucialis (Harvey, 1875)
Xylomiges crucialis Harvey, 1875
Phylogenetic sequence # 932791.
Numbers
Lafontaine & Schmidt (2010) included 14 species of the genus
Egira in America north of Mexico.
(1)Identification
Adult: forewing light to medium gray with black basal dash and black markings on either side of orbicular spot and below reniform spot; subterminal line broken into two sets of black dashes set at slight angle to outer margin; hindwing white to pale gray with dark discal spot and broken median and terminal lines.
Larva: early instars pale gray with black dorsal and lateral dots on each abdominal segment, and black head; final instar light yellowish-brown with dark lateral dots on abdomen, and reddish-brown head.
Range
British Columbia to California, east to Texas, north to Montana.
(2)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection dates.
Bug Guide - map of photo records submitted to the guide.
Habitat
Wet coniferous forests in western mountains, and riparian forests at lower elevations.
Season
Most records are from February to July.(MPG)
Food
larvae feed on leaves of alder, Snowbrush (
Ceanothus velutinus),
Antelope Bitterbrush (
Purshia tridentata),
Oceanspray (
Holodiscus discolor), oak, rose,
Salal (
Gaultheria shallon),
Salmonberry (
Rubus spectabilis), and
Spiraea
Powell (1986) found larvae on
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Pinaceae).
(3)Life Cycle
Overwinters as a pupa; one generation per year.
Remarks
See Bruce Walsh's page for
comments by Don Lafontaine on the possibility of
peritalis being a distinct species.
See Also
Egira simplex forewing ground color is paler (more whitish), the black markings are generally heavier and more extensive, and the subterminal line is a straight unbroken series of black dashes.
(
compare images of both species at CBIF)
Internet References
live larvae and adult images plus larval description, foodplants, biology (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) - collection map and photos of pinned adults.
adult description and comparison photo of
E. simplex, plus habitat and larval foodplants (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, USGS)
pinned adult image plus date and location (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
29 specimen records from California plus locations and dates (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution in Canada BC only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
