Euxoa atomaris

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

SeasonalityIn Alberta adults have been collected in late July. IdentificationA medium-size (3.0-3.4 cm wingspan) moth, varying in color from dark brown through lighter browns to fawn-yellow. Normal lines and spots, including the claviform, weakly developed and defined by a mix of light and dark scales. The antemedian and postmedian lines doubled, with the postmedian line often appearing "beaded". The forewings are characteristically paler in the central and posterior portions than along the costa and outer margins, and often have a coppery or tan cast. The hindwings are white in males with variable extent of smoky brown along the margin, the veins and the discal dot; females similar but usually with darker scaling on the veins. Males can be identified by the following genital characteristics: asymmetrical harpes (left about 3/4 the length of the right) and stout saccular extensions that taper abruptly near the apex. Euxoa atomaris belongs to the subgenus Pleonectopoda, characterized by the prominent twist or subbasal coil in the vesica of the male. There are no characters that can be used to identify females as members of the subgenus. Keys to the subgenus and species are presented in Lafontaine, 1987.

Scientific Name Euxoa atomaris Habitat Dry open areas. Seasonality In Alberta adults have been collected in late July. Identification

A medium-size (3.0-3.4 cm wingspan) moth, varying in color from dark brown through lighter browns to fawn-yellow. Normal lines and spots, including the claviform, weakly developed and defined by a mix of light and dark scales. The antemedian and postmedian lines doubled, with the postmedian line often appearing "beaded". The forewings are characteristically paler in the central and posterior portions than along the costa and outer margins, and often have a coppery or tan cast. The hindwings are white in males with variable extent of smoky brown along the margin, the veins and the discal dot; females similar but usually with darker scaling on the veins. Males can be identified by the following genital characteristics: asymmetrical harpes (left about 3/4 the length of the right) and stout saccular extensions that taper abruptly near the apex. Euxoa atomaris belongs to the subgenus Pleonectopoda, characterized by the prominent twist or subbasal coil in the vesica of the male. There are no characters that can be used to identify females as members of the subgenus. Keys to the subgenus and species are presented in Lafontaine, 1987.

Life History Poorly known. Adults tend to fly late in the season (August and September) in most parts of the range. The larvae are not known. Conservation Rarely collected in Alberta, which is at the northern edge of the range. Diet Info Unknown. Most related species are general feeders on a range of low-growing broad-leaved plants. Range North Dakota and southern Alberta and British Columbia south to central New Mexico and Arizona and southern California. In Alberta it has been collected near Calgary (head of Pine Creek).

Page Citation

"Species Details - Euxoa atomaris, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3853. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.

Role species page author

Date 2003-11-19

References

44 results plotted on map in 19 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM57905 - Euxoa atomaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Washington Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1994-09-17

UASM109105 - Euxoa atomaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Tranquille Ecological Reserve Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Rose, A. Date Collected2006-09-01