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Species Details
Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
SeasonalityAdults are on the wing early June through early August.
IdentificationA small (approx. 2 cm. wingspan), broad-winged moth, with medium-brown forewings crossed by 4 or 5 jagged dark lines, some partially bordered by white but quite variable among specimens. The hindwings are much paler than and contrast with the forewings. Very similar to and often very difficult to separate from Idia aemula, which is darker and lacks a strong contrast in color between the forewings and hingwings. The lines on the forewings of nr. aemula also tend to be stronger and more sharply defined than those of aemula. Genitalia in both sexes appear indistinguishable from those of aemula. In Handfield 1999 it is treated as Idia concisa.
Scientific Name
Idia sp. nr. aemula
Habitat
Coniferous and mixedwood forest.
Seasonality
Adults are on the wing early June through early August.
Identification
A small (approx. 2 cm. wingspan), broad-winged moth, with medium-brown forewings crossed by 4 or 5 jagged dark lines, some partially bordered by white but quite variable among specimens. The hindwings are much paler…
A small (approx. 2 cm. wingspan), broad-winged moth, with medium-brown forewings crossed by 4 or 5 jagged dark lines, some partially bordered by white but quite variable among specimens. The hindwings are much paler than and contrast with the forewings. Very similar to and often very difficult to separate from Idia aemula, which is darker and lacks a strong contrast in color between the forewings and hingwings. The lines on the forewings of nr. aemula also tend to be stronger and more sharply defined than those of aemula. Genitalia in both sexes appear indistinguishable from those of aemula. In Handfield 1999 it is treated as Idia concisa.
Life History
Adults are nocturnal, and come to both light and sugar baits. They have been collected from early June to early August. Unlike most members of the genus, the larvae apparently feed on the living needles of spruce and fir.
Conservation
A common widespread species; no concerns.
Range
Across much of the boreal forest of southern Canada, west to southern BC, but the range needs redefining owing to confusing of past published records with those of Idia aemula. In Alberta it occurs throughout the…
Across much of the boreal forest of southern Canada, west to southern BC, but the range needs redefining owing to confusing of past published records with those of Idia aemula. In Alberta it occurs throughout the Boreal forest and foothills, north at least to Lake Athabasca. Apparently mostly absent from the Aspen parklands and grasslands regions.
Citation
Page Citation for Idia sp. nr. aemula
Page Citation
"Species Details - Idia sp. nr. aemula, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1944/9-7701. Accessed 05 Jul. 2024.
References
Author
Prentice, R. M.
Title
Forest Lepidoptera of Canada. (1962)
Publication Date
1962
Volume
2
Pages
281
Author
Handfield, L.
Title
Le guide des papillons du Quebec.
Publication Date
1999
Pages
536
Author
Rings, R. W.; Metzler, E. H; Arnold, F. J. and D. H. Harris
Title
The owlet moths of Ohio. Order Lepidoptera family Noctuidae.
Publication Date
1992
Series Title
Bulletin of the Ohio Biological Survey
Volume
9
Pages
219
Specimen Information
There are 76 specimens of this Species.
BIRD17965 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-07-01
BIRD17966 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rimbey
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-07-21
BIRD22083 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-03
BIRD22084 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-12
BIRD22085 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-12
BIRD22086 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-20
JD5140 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.
Date Collected2008-08-01
UASM103413 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Smoky River
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Hilchie, G.
Date Collected2007-07-15
UASM103426 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Cote Creek
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Hilchie, G.
Date Collected2007-07-13
BIRD31605 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2009-08-01
UASM186536 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1993-07-20
UASM186537 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pigeon Lake
Collected BySperling, F. A. H.
Date Collected2005-07-14
UASM186538 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Crooked Lake
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1998-07-22
UASM186539 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Manitoba, Spirit Dunes
Collected ByTroubridge; Lafontaine
Date Collected2003-07-21
UASM186540 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1917-07-18
UASM186541 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected1999-08-04
UASM186542 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByFuller, E.
Date Collected1994-07-12
UASM186543 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByE. R. F.
Date Collected1994-06-13
UASM186544 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-06-24
UASM186545 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Maqua Lake Recreation Area
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-08-19
UASM186546 - Idia sp. nr. aemula
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Stittsville
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected2003-06-28