Species Details

Caenurgina erechtea

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

Common NameCommon Grass-moth, Forage Looper SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from mid-June through mid-September IdentificationMedium-size (3.0-4.2 cm wingspan) broad-winged brown (female) or brownish-grey (male) moths. Males have two dark bars crossing the forewing, the innermost curving outward near the lower margin, but touching neither the outer band nor the lower margin of the wing. The subterminal band is reduced to a few small points except near the costa, where it forms two prominent black fused spots. The hindwing is light grey-brown with a dark sinuous subterminal band and dark terminal band. The female is dull grey-brown with the bars of the male forewing reduced to faint lines. The hindwing is also brown, and the terminal bands are much less contrasting than those of the male. In the smaller and more common C. crassiuscula the forewing bars are wider and usually touch at the bottom, while the antemedian bar runs straighter and usually touches lower margin. Females of crassiuscula are smaller, browner and much more strongly marked than those of erechtea. Some males of the two species can be very difficult to identify, and the genitalia need to be examinined.

Scientific Name Caenurgina erechtea Common Name Common Grass-moth, Forage Looper Habitat Open areas such as pastures, meadows, roadsides, etc. with an abundance of grasses and forbs. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid-June through mid-September Identification
Medium-size (3.0-4.2 cm wingspan) broad-winged brown (female) or brownish-grey (male) moths. Males have two dark bars crossing the forewing, the innermost curving outward near the lower margin, but touching neither…
Medium-size (3.0-4.2 cm wingspan) broad-winged brown (female) or brownish-grey (male) moths. Males have two dark bars crossing the forewing, the innermost curving outward near the lower margin, but touching neither the outer band nor the lower margin of the wing. The subterminal band is reduced to a few small points except near the costa, where it forms two prominent black fused spots. The hindwing is light grey-brown with a dark sinuous subterminal band and dark terminal band. The female is dull grey-brown with the bars of the male forewing reduced to faint lines. The hindwing is also brown, and the terminal bands are much less contrasting than those of the male. In the smaller and more common C. crassiuscula the forewing bars are wider and usually touch at the bottom, while the antemedian bar runs straighter and usually touches lower margin. Females of crassiuscula are smaller, browner and much more strongly marked than those of erechtea. Some males of the two species can be very difficult to identify, and the genitalia need to be examinined.
Life History The adults are active day and night. There are probably at least two broods in Alberta, as fresh adults have been found as late as September. The larvae are reported to hide by day and feed at night (Forbes, 1954). Conservation A common widespread species; no concern. Diet Info Clover (Trifolium) (Rockburne and Lafontaine, 1976); alfalfa (Medicago), grasses (Gramineae), ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) (Covell, 1984). Range
Throughout most of the United States and Canada from Quebec west, north at least to the southern edge of the boreal forest in western Canada. Widespread in the southern half of Alberta, from the Milk River north to…
Throughout most of the United States and Canada from Quebec west, north at least to the southern edge of the boreal forest in western Canada. Widespread in the southern half of Alberta, from the Milk River north to at least the Nordegg, Edmonton and Lloydminster areas.

Citation

Page Citation for Caenurgina erechtea

Page Citation

"Species Details - Caenurgina erechtea, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3715. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 68 specimens of this Species.

68 results plotted on map in 51 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13921 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1918-07-17

UASM13931 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1924-09-02

UASM13946 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1938-08-15

UASM13961 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-08-15

UASM13962 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1938-09-16

UASM13976 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1938-08-15

UASM13981 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1920-08-05

UASM13982 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1920-07-31

UASM13986 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-08-15

UASM34543 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1999-09-07

UASM34545 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected1999-08-13

UASM34690 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edgerton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2003-08-06/2003-09-07

UASM58352 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2004-08-11/2004-08-12

BIRD5474 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-08-09

BIRD5511 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-07-23

BIRD5512 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Trochu Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-08-09

BIRD5542 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Stettler Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2004-07-31

BIRD5543 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Stettler Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2004-07-31

BIRD15042 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

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

BIRD15045 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-08-28

UASM58858 - Caenurgina erechtea

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Taber Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-09-01

Adult Seasonal Distribution