Species Virbia fergusoni - Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1

8118.1

Virbia fergusoni Zaspel, 2008 (1)

Phylogenetic sequence # 930298 (2)

Zaspel named the species in honour of Dr. Douglas Ferguson. (3)

Zaspel (2008) listed the forewing length.

♂ 11 mm. (N=10) [10 ♂ specimens studied]. (1)

♀ 12 mm. (N=10) (1)

Male FW umber with dark fuscous on the crossveins of the discal spot forming a small transverse band. HW peach red, the subterminal region raw umber. Female FW cinnamon, sometimes with a salmon costal margin. HW peach red, the terminal margins fringed with tawny scales. See referenced PDF for detailed description (1)

Zaspel (2008) studies specimens from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. (1)

Listed on the South Carolina checklist. (4)

Holotype male from 7.5 mile N.E. Fargo, Clinch County, Georgia (13-vii-1981). (1)

Zaspel (2008) reported the flight period of mid-March through mid-July, with only one Georgia specimen from September. (1)

D.C. Ferguson reared on Taraxacum (dandelion) but the natural host is not certain. (1)

Zaspel (2008) reported the species likely has multiple broods. (1)

Can be confused with Virbia opella males which have a lighter colored forewing. (1)

Zaspel, M., S.J. Weller & R.T. Carde. 2008. A review of Virbia (formerly Holomelina) of America north of Mexico (Arctiidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 48(3): 84; figs. 19a, 19b; pl. 2, figs. 4, 5. (1)

Moth Photographers Group (5)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (6)

South Carolina Moth Checklist (listed only) (4)