Species Details

Abagrotis erratica

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

SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta in mid August. IdentificationOne of the larger (3.5-3.8 cm wingspan) Abagrotis sp. The rather broad forewings are pale pinkish-brown or grey-buff with a narrow oblong reniform spot, darker in the upper and lower part, and with a series of fine dots marking the outer edge of the postmedian line. The hindwings are pale grey or grey-brown. Characters that will separate erratica from other Alberta Abagrotis include biserrate male antennae, the sharply outlined reniform spot darker in the upper and lower portions, and the outer postmedian line reduced to a series of fine dots. Genital characters include the spinelike apex of the uncus and a globular rather than elongate vesica lacking a basal diverticula in the male, and two similar triangular signa in the bursa of the female. Abagrotis trigona is similar in appearance but is smaller, has dark hindwings, and the male has simple, beadlike antennae. Keys to the adults and illustrations of the genitalia of both sexes are available in Lafontaine (1998).

Scientific Name Abagrotis erratica Habitat Dry riparian woodland and shrub. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta in mid August. Identification
One of the larger (3.5-3.8 cm wingspan) Abagrotis sp. The rather broad forewings are pale pinkish-brown or grey-buff with a narrow oblong reniform spot, darker in the upper and lower part, and with a series of fine…
One of the larger (3.5-3.8 cm wingspan) Abagrotis sp. The rather broad forewings are pale pinkish-brown or grey-buff with a narrow oblong reniform spot, darker in the upper and lower part, and with a series of fine dots marking the outer edge of the postmedian line. The hindwings are pale grey or grey-brown. Characters that will separate erratica from other Alberta Abagrotis include biserrate male antennae, the sharply outlined reniform spot darker in the upper and lower portions, and the outer postmedian line reduced to a series of fine dots. Genital characters include the spinelike apex of the uncus and a globular rather than elongate vesica lacking a basal diverticula in the male, and two similar triangular signa in the bursa of the female. Abagrotis trigona is similar in appearance but is smaller, has dark hindwings, and the male has simple, beadlike antennae. Keys to the adults and illustrations of the genitalia of both sexes are available in Lafontaine (1998).
Life History Poorly known. There is a single annual brood. Adults come to both light and sugar bait. The larvae are climbing cutworms, and are described briefly by Crumb (1956). Conservation Very rare and local in extreme southern Alberta, which is at the northeastern edge of their range. Diet Info No Alberta data; elsewhere the only reported larval host is willow (Salix) (Crumb, 1956). Range
Western montane; southern British Columbia including Vancouver Island south to central Utah and central California. Several specimens collected at Writing-on-stone Provincial Park in extreme southern Alberta appear to…
Western montane; southern British Columbia including Vancouver Island south to central Utah and central California. Several specimens collected at Writing-on-stone Provincial Park in extreme southern Alberta appear to be the only records from west of the Continental Divide.

Citation

Page Citation for Abagrotis erratica

Page Citation

"Species Details - Abagrotis erratica, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3711. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author
Date 2003-11-13

References

Specimen Information

There are 49 specimens of this Species.

49 results plotted on map in 14 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM105952 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Mount Kobau Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Hensel Date Collected2000-08-02

UASM105953 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Mount Kobau Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-08-20

UASM105954 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Mount Kobau Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-08-20

UASM105955 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Seton Lake Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1995-07-17

UASM105956 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, McGillivray Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-08-11

UASM105957 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Harney county, Catlow Rim Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-05

UASM105958 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Harney county, Catlow Rim Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-05

UASM105959 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Harney county, Catlow Rim Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-05

UASM105960 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Harney county, Catlow Rim Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-05

UASM105961 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Harney county, Catlow Rim Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-08-30

UASM105962 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Lane county, Frissell Point Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Crabo, L. G. Date Collected1995-08-05

UASM105963 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Lane county, Frissell Point Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Crabo, L. G. Date Collected1995-08-05

UASM105964 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Lane county, Frissell Point Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1995-09-02

UASM105965 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Lane county, Frissell Point Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2001-07-26

UASM105966 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Crook county, Suplee Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-04

UASM105967 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Crook county, Suplee Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-09-04

UASM105968 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Jefferson county, Vanora Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1997-08-25

UASM105969 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Jefferson county, Vanora Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1997-08-25

UASM105970 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Jackson Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-08-28

UASM105971 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Jackson Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-08-28

UASM105972 - Abagrotis erratica

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Jackson Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2000-08-28

Adult Seasonal Distribution