| |
Noctuidae - Amphipyrinae - Amphipyrini
|
|
Amphipyra pyramidoides Guenée 1852
Diagnosis: Amphipyra pyramidoides is one of the more distinctive noctuids in North America. The coppery-orange hindwing will always identify the moth. The forewing is dark, dull brown and the basal area and the region between the postmedial line and the outer margin are lighter than the median area. The basal line is obscure and distinguishable only on the forewing costa. The line is as a thick, slightly lighter line accented with with dark brown on its inner and outer sides. The antemedial line is strongly scalloped, but irregular consisting of light band accented with brown on its inner and dark brown on its outer side. The claviform mark is absent or represented by a small, black patch. The median area is darker than the rest of the wing, particularly in the region of the orbicular and reniform marks. The orbicular mark is a small ovate circle. The reniform mark is kidney shaped and more obscure than the orbicular mark. A diffuse dark brown or black streak runs through the orbicular and reniform marks. This streak is strongest about the orbicular mark and breaks up on the veins between the reniform mark and the postmedial line. The strength and distinctness of this streak is variable between specimens and can be nearly absent in some. The postmedial line is irregularly and weakly scalloped on the veins. The line is accented on its inner side (particularly on the veins) by dark brown or black and brown on its outer side. Each of the weak scallops on its outer side is accented with a minute brown dot. The postmedial line is distinctly curved around the reniform mark and curves inward to the costal margin. The outer third of the forewing between the postmedial line is distinctly lighter than the median area. There are weak black streaks in the upper half of this region on the veins starting at the obscure subterminal line and pointing inward toward the postmedial line. The hindwing is coppery orange although the costal margin is shaded with brown. The hindwing ventral surface has more extensive brown shading than is present on the dorsal surface. The ventral surface also has a strong, broad brown postmedial line and a distinct discal dot. The sides of the abdomen have alternating black and light brown bands. These bands, however, fade to obscurity on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the abdomen. Wing length: (New York) mean = 21.87 mm, standard deviation = 0.63 mm, n = 10; (western Texas and southern Arizona) mean = 22.94 mm, standard deviation = 1.31 mm, n = 10. Distribution: Amphipyra pyramidoides occurs thoughout most of the United States and Canada, although the species is apparently most common and widespread in the northeastern parts of the country. The species occurs from Nova Scotia as far south as northern Florida. The moths is present westward throughout southern Canada and is common in the United States westward to the eastern Great Plains. Amphipyra pyramidoides does occur in the southern and western Great Plains west to the Rocky Mountains, but is apparently not as common as it is in the east. It occurs in the Pacific Northwest and southward as far as central California. The species also occurs in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and northern Mexico. Curiously, perhaps, the species seems to be absent from the western States of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada and the western parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado. Populations in western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are significantly larger than those from the rest of the country and the ground color of the forewing is a slightly deeper, richer brown. Specimens from southern Arizona are particularly large. No significant differences between these Arizona specimens and material from elsewhere in the range of the species have been found. Throughout most of the range of the species the adults are commonest in the fall moths of September and October although adults first start appearing in early July. The species appears to be two brooded in western Texas, New Mexico, and southern Arizona with a spring flightly periods in May and June, and a Fall period of September and October. The adults, like those of tragopoginis, are dorsally-ventrally flatened and have the habit of hiding in cracks. The adults are commonly found between the bark of trees, both living and dead and are also commonly found in any dark niche in the house or garage. Adults are one of the commonest species collected at sugar-bait during the fall. Identification Quality: Excellent Larva: Rings (1968) and Crumb (1956) have both described the larva. The larva is light, translucent green with a very strong, projecting hump on abdominal segment 8. A strong, white spiracular running through the spiracles is present, the line accented with darker green dorsally, and running along the outer margin of anal shield, not down the proleg of abdominal segment 10. A dorsal white line is also present and an irregular series of white lines exists in the subdorsal region. The pinacula of the abdominal segment are white giving the larva and white speckled appearance. The head is pale, apple green without any markings. The species over-winters as eggs. The larva pupates in an earthern cocoon. Foodplants: The larva feeds on an extremely wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. A list of recorded foodplants is given in Table xx.
|
Amphipyra pyramidoides
A single specimen of Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus) labeled "Hudson, N.Y." is in the collection of the USNM. The specimen is old and may either be mislabeled or represent a transient introduction of the species. The locality is in Colombia County in eastern New York, north of New York City and south of Albany. Amphipyra pyramidea (and its Palaearctic sister species Amphipyra berbera Rungs) are very similar to pyramidoides. The forewing of pyramidea is generally more uniform in coloration than that of pyramidoides without a distinct difference in coloration between the median area and the outer third of the forewing, although some difference may be present. The postmedial line is the best distinguishing character. The postmedial line of pyramidoides is distinctly rounded, curving inward to the costal margin. The postmedial line of pyramidea, in constrast is nearly straight, not curving inward to the costal margin, or only weakly angled inward. The series of light dots on the outer side of the postmedial line are usually much larger and more distinct in pyramidea than in pyramidoides. An excellent character for distinguishing between the two species is found in the male genitalia. The uncus of pyramidoides is relatively narrow and equal in width over its entire length. The apical half of the uncus of pyramidea is, in contrast, greatly expanded and fat, with the apical part very wide, rounded, and with a strong apical tooth. |
Similar Species No Similar Species |
