Species Details

Tarachidia semiflava

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

Common NameYellow-cloaked Midget, The Half-yellow SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from mid June to mid July. IdentificationA small (1.8-2.4 cm wingspan) bright yellow and purple-brown moth. The head, thorax and basal half of the forewings are bright yellow, except for a small spot of purple-brown at the wing base. The sharply divided outer half of the forewing including the fringe is dark purple-brown, mixed with white scales in the apical area, giving it a slightly frosted appearance. The hindwings are light brown or white peppered with brown scales, which also line the veins and form a diffuse dark outer border. The hindwing fringe is brown on the basal half and white on the outer half. Antennae simple; sexes alike. Impossible to mistake for any other Alberta insect.

Scientific Name Tarachidia semiflava Common Name Yellow-cloaked Midget, The Half-yellow Habitat Dry open areas such as sandy prairie, old beaches and dunes. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid June to mid July. Identification
A small (1.8-2.4 cm wingspan) bright yellow and purple-brown moth. The head, thorax and basal half of the forewings are bright yellow, except for a small spot of purple-brown at the wing base. The sharply divided…
A small (1.8-2.4 cm wingspan) bright yellow and purple-brown moth. The head, thorax and basal half of the forewings are bright yellow, except for a small spot of purple-brown at the wing base. The sharply divided outer half of the forewing including the fringe is dark purple-brown, mixed with white scales in the apical area, giving it a slightly frosted appearance. The hindwings are light brown or white peppered with brown scales, which also line the veins and form a diffuse dark outer border. The hindwing fringe is brown on the basal half and white on the outer half. Antennae simple; sexes alike. Impossible to mistake for any other Alberta insect.
Life History The adults are nocturnal and come to light, but are also easily flushed during the day. There is a single brood. The larvae have apparently not been described. Conservation A widespread but uncommon moth; possibly a dune specialist. Diet Info
Unknown. No Alberta data. The only reported host is Trumpets or Pitcherplant (Sarracenia flava) (Covell, 1984). This would be a very unusual host and is certainly a case of mistaken identification, The unrelated but…
Unknown. No Alberta data. The only reported host is Trumpets or Pitcherplant (Sarracenia flava) (Covell, 1984). This would be a very unusual host and is certainly a case of mistaken identification, The unrelated but superficially almost identical Exyra semicrocea (Gn.) does use Sarracena as its host.
Range
New England south to Florida and Arizona; north to southern Manitoba and west to the southern interior of British Columbia. In Alberta it has been collected locally from the Milk River north to Lloyminster and…
New England south to Florida and Arizona; north to southern Manitoba and west to the southern interior of British Columbia. In Alberta it has been collected locally from the Milk River north to Lloyminster and Redwater, west to Olds.

Citation

Page Citation for Tarachidia semiflava

Page Citation

"Species Details - Tarachidia semiflava, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3697. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author
Date 2003-11-12

References

Specimen Information

There are 52 specimens of this Species.

52 results plotted on map in 26 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13788 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-04

UASM13793 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-04

UASM13795 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-08

UASM13796 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-06-21

UASM19969 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2000-06-28/2000-06-29

UASM41609 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1999-06-13

UASM41664 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Kettle Valley Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1993-07-04/1993-07-05

UASM58034 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C. Date Collected2004-06-03/2004-06-04

BIRD7354 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-25

BIRD7355 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Conservation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-07-20

UASM57516 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-06-16

UASM58481 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-06-16

BIRD15124 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rochon Sands Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-05-31

BIRD15125 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Stettler Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-06-19

BIRD15126 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Stettler Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-06-19

BIRD15127 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-16

BIRD15128 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-26

JD2567 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Idaho, Idaho county, Riggins Collected ByDombroskie, J. J. et al Date Collected2007-07-02

JD4994 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Orion Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Rose, A. Date Collected2008-07-08

CBCC1553 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Moose Lake Provincial Park Collected ByChristensen, C. B. Date Collected2006-07-12

UASM163299 - Tarachidia semiflava

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-06-25

Adult Seasonal Distribution