Sympistis heliophila

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

SeasonalityIn Alberta, adults have been collected in mid-June. IdentificationA small (2.3-2.4 cm wingspan) dark grey-black diurnal moth. The forewings are mottled or grizzled dark grey and black, with small faint pale orbicular and reniform spots and a checkered fringe. The hindwings are bright white with a broad black terminal band and white fringe, and some grey scaling in the basal area. Similar to the sympatric and also diurnal Heliothis borealis, which has solid black in the basal area of the hindwing, and evenly colored (not grizzled) dark black-brown forewings.

Scientific Name Sympistis heliophila Habitat Subarctic; open bogs, open dry woodland and clearings. Seasonality In Alberta, adults have been collected in mid-June. Identification

A small (2.3-2.4 cm wingspan) dark grey-black diurnal moth. The forewings are mottled or grizzled dark grey and black, with small faint pale orbicular and reniform spots and a checkered fringe. The hindwings are bright white with a broad black terminal band and white fringe, and some grey scaling in the basal area. Similar to the sympatric and also diurnal Heliothis borealis, which has solid black in the basal area of the hindwing, and evenly colored (not grizzled) dark black-brown forewings.

Life History Adults are active during the day. They have a very fast buzzing flight making them very difficult to capture. There is a single annual brood. Conservation Rare in Alberta; fairly common and widespread in the holarctic arctic-subarctic. Diet Info No North American data. In Europe reported to utilize Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium uliginosum, and V. myrtillus as larval hosts, all of which are present in Alberta. Range Holarctic. In North America reported from Yukon, NWT, and in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec. In Alberta recorded only from the Caribou Mountains, at Wentzel and Pichimi Lakes.

Page Citation

"Species Details - Sympistis heliophila, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3731. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Subfamily Cuculliinae Genus Sympistis Species Sympistis heliophila

This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
  - Subphylum Chelicerata
    - Class Arachnida
  - Class Hexapoda
    - Subclass Insecta

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Species Details