Autographa_sansoni

<i>Autographa sansoni</i>

Autographa sansoni

Species of moth

Autographa sansoni, the Alberta beauty, is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1][2] The species was first described by F. H. Wolley Dod in 1910.[3] It is found in the western mountains of North America, from Alaska south to Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. Occurring mainly in the Pacific Northwest, it thrives in mid-to-high elevation conifer forest habitat, as well as some areas of coastal rain forest in the Coast range.[4] However, it is also found in a non-contiguous range in sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains, ranging from Alberta in the north, to New Mexico in the south.[4] The wingspan of an adult ranges between 34 and 36 mm. It is widespread, and a relatively common species.

Quick Facts Alberta beauty, Scientific classification ...

Behaviour

Adults are on the wing from June to July, depending on the location.[1] Adult females of the species lay a single brood of eggs each year. The moth is nocturnal, and will be attracted to lights.[1] The plants upon which the moths' larvae feed are currently unknown.[4]

Description

The two forewings are a dark shade of brown, whilst both hindwings are a much lighter shade of yellow, tipped with a wide marginal band of a darker yellow-brown shade.[4] The forewing culminates in a rounded point, while the hindwing is more curved.[4] There is also a curved white mark, curving from the anterior edge towards the outer edge.[4] The species is identifiable through these characteristics, as well as the possession of a curved stigma. While the species shows some sexual dimorphism, the sexes are still hard to distinguish.[1] The antenna of the male is filiform.[4] The thorax is a darker shade than the abdomen, although both shades are intermediary to those of the wings.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    Anweiler, G. G. & Robinson, E. "Species Details Autographa sansoni". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. [2]
    Noctuoidea: Noctuidae (part): Plusiinae, The Moths of America north of Mexico, including Greenland. Lafontaine, J. Donald and Robert W. Poole, 1995, Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, ISBN 0933003064
  3. [3]
    Savela, Markku, ed. (29 August 2020). "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Pacific Northwest Moths. p. 93-1207. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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