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Species Details
Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameMerry Melipotis
SeasonalityAlberta specimens have been collected in late May.
IdentificationA medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) grey, black and white moth with black and white hindwings. Sexes dimorphic. Females have gray forewings, with fine dark streaks along and between the veins, and with a short darker apical streak. The reniform is marked by a few black and brown scales. Fringe grey. Hindwings bright white with grey on the veins, and with a wide dark grey marginal band interrupted by two large, white marginal spots. Fringe white. Male with basal and median area very light grey, contrasting strongly with the black below and with the black postmedian line, which has a large "tooth" pointing basad. A dark apical streak as in the female, but the reniform more strongly marked by several short, dark wavy streaks. Hindwing as in female, but the dark band slightly less extensive. Antennae in both sexes filiform. Similar species include Drasteria pallescens (forewing with wide band and brown colors) and Bullia deducta (hindwing with a single white marginal spot, containing a large black spot and yellow lunule). Melipotis belongs to the family Noctuidae, subfamily Catocalinae.
Scientific Name
Melipotis jucunda
Common Name
Merry Melipotis
Habitat
Wooded riparian shrub in the arid grasslands region.
Seasonality
Alberta specimens have been collected in late May.
Identification
A medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) grey, black and white moth with black and white hindwings. Sexes dimorphic. Females have gray forewings, with fine dark streaks along and between the veins, and with a short darker…
A medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) grey, black and white moth with black and white hindwings. Sexes dimorphic. Females have gray forewings, with fine dark streaks along and between the veins, and with a short darker apical streak. The reniform is marked by a few black and brown scales. Fringe grey. Hindwings bright white with grey on the veins, and with a wide dark grey marginal band interrupted by two large, white marginal spots. Fringe white. Male with basal and median area very light grey, contrasting strongly with the black below and with the black postmedian line, which has a large "tooth" pointing basad. A dark apical streak as in the female, but the reniform more strongly marked by several short, dark wavy streaks. Hindwing as in female, but the dark band slightly less extensive. Antennae in both sexes filiform. Similar species include Drasteria pallescens (forewing with wide band and brown colors) and Bullia deducta (hindwing with a single white marginal spot, containing a large black spot and yellow lunule). Melipotis belongs to the family Noctuidae, subfamily Catocalinae.
Life History
Poorly known. There is a single brood each year, with adults flying in late spring. Adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Conservation
A rare and local species in Alberta, at the northern extremity of its range.
Diet Info
No Alberta data; elsewhere willow (Salix), catclaw (Acacia) and oak (Quercus) (Prentice, 1962; Ferguson, 1975; Crumb, 1956.)
Range
Southern USA, north to New Jersey, the southern Prairie Provinces and Vancouver Island. In Alberta, it has been collected north to the South Saskatchewan River valley south of Empress.
Citation
Page Citation for Melipotis jucunda
Page Citation
"Species Details - Melipotis jucunda, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3871/9-11078. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
References
Author
Prentice, R. M.
Title
Forest Lepidoptera of Canada. (1962)
Publication Date
1962
Volume
2
Pages
281
Author
Ferguson, D. C.
Title
Host records for lepidoptera reared in eastern North America.
Publication Date
1975
Series Title
United States Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin
Volume
1521
Author
Forbes, William T. M.
Title
Lepidoptera of New York & neighbouring states : Part 3
Publication Date
1954
Series Title
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. Memoir
Author
Crumb, S. E.
Title
The Larvae of the Phalaenidae.
Publication Date
1956
Series Title
United States Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin
Volume
1135
Pages
1-356
Specimen Information
There are 26 specimens of this Species.
UASM185872 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Missoula county, Missoula
Collected ByKohler, S.
Date Collected1989-07-18
UASM185873 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, McNeil
Collected BySchmidt, C.
Date Collected2003-05-31
UASM185874 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Lane county, Rainbow
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1997-06-27
UASM185875 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Illinois River
Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Troubridge, L.
Date Collected1996-10-12/1996-10-13
UASM185876 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Washington, Grant county, The Potholes
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-08-14