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Species Details

Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameAlfalfa Looper Moth SeasonalityAdults are collected occasionally in late May, but the main flight is from late July through October IdentificationA medium-size (3.6-4.2 cm wingspan) grey-black moth with a silvery sheen in fresh specimens. Forewings are mottled pale grey in the basal and subterminal areas, with dark blackish-brown in the lower median area and along the subterminal line. The antemedian and postmedian lines and the area below the stigma are dark red-brown. Stigma is silvery white, forming an outward curving arc with a rounded tip and with a widely separated fork at the upper end. About one-third of the way down the subterminal line is a black dash which connects the subterminal and postmedian lines. This black dash is diagnostic and will separate californica from the very similar A. pseudogamma. Hindwings are dark sooty brown-black, paler in the basal half and shading into a wide dark terminal band. The antennae are simple and both the sexes are alike.

Scientific Name Autographa californica Common Name Alfalfa Looper Moth Habitat Open meadows, hayfields, croplands, gardens and woodland edges. Seasonality Adults are collected occasionally in late May, but the main flight is from late July through October Identification
A medium-size (3.6-4.2 cm wingspan) grey-black moth with a silvery sheen in fresh specimens. Forewings are mottled pale grey in the basal and subterminal areas, with dark blackish-brown in the lower median area and…
A medium-size (3.6-4.2 cm wingspan) grey-black moth with a silvery sheen in fresh specimens. Forewings are mottled pale grey in the basal and subterminal areas, with dark blackish-brown in the lower median area and along the subterminal line. The antemedian and postmedian lines and the area below the stigma are dark red-brown. Stigma is silvery white, forming an outward curving arc with a rounded tip and with a widely separated fork at the upper end. About one-third of the way down the subterminal line is a black dash which connects the subterminal and postmedian lines. This black dash is diagnostic and will separate californica from the very similar A. pseudogamma. Hindwings are dark sooty brown-black, paler in the basal half and shading into a wide dark terminal band. The antennae are simple and both the sexes are alike.
Life History
Adults are both noctural and diurnal, and have been collected in light traps as well as while nectaring during the day. In late fall, they can be quite common and found nectaring during the afternoon at late blooming…
Adults are both noctural and diurnal, and have been collected in light traps as well as while nectaring during the day. In late fall, they can be quite common and found nectaring during the afternoon at late blooming plants such as Alfalfa and garden Marigolds. It appears that there is a small spring emergence and a much larger late summer and fall generation in Alberta.
Conservation A widespread, common species, and a crop pest south of Alberta. No concerns. Diet Info
No Alberta data. A pest on a variety of forage and vegetable crops further south, and probably also a variety of native herbaceous plants. Eichelin and Cunningham (1978) list over 50 genera in over 25 families of…
No Alberta data. A pest on a variety of forage and vegetable crops further south, and probably also a variety of native herbaceous plants. Eichelin and Cunningham (1978) list over 50 genera in over 25 families of herbaceous plants and woody shrubs used as hosts by larvae of californica.
Range
A western species, found from northern Mexico to Alaska, east to Manitoba, South Dakota, Kansas and New Mexico. It is a common and widespread species in Alberta, north in the Foothills, Grasslands and Aspen Parklands…
A western species, found from northern Mexico to Alaska, east to Manitoba, South Dakota, Kansas and New Mexico. It is a common and widespread species in Alberta, north in the Foothills, Grasslands and Aspen Parklands region and into the southern Boreal Forest.

Citation

Page Citation for Autographa californica

Page Citation

"Species Details - Autographa californica, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1124/9-86375. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 138 specimens of this Species.

138 results plotted on map in 69 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13376 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Pocahontas Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1918-08-24

UASM13378 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-22

UASM13379 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-09-17

UASM13385 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-08-12

UASM13388 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-09-03

UASM13389 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge Collected BySeamans, H. L. Date Collected1922-06-20

UASM13393 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1915-08-26

UASM13394 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByCrosby, G. C. S. Date Collected1923-10-05

UASM13395 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-09-30

UASM13397 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge Collected BySeamans, H. L. Date Collected1923-08-25

UASM13398 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-08-17

UASM13399 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1932-09-05

UASM13401 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1940-09-14

UASM13403 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByFuller, E. Date Collected1993-08-28

UASM13404 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1918-08-01

UASM13405 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1934-08-06

UASM19927 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1996-08-14

UASM19928 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Bragg Creek Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1994-07-24

UASM43318 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1997-08-30

UASM41230 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Caribou Mountains Wildland Park, Margaret Lake Collected ByPohl, G. R. Date Collected2003-06-15

BIRD6558 - Autographa californica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Arrowwood Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-08-03

Adult Seasonal Distribution