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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/2-3871/9-249070. Accessed 09 Nov. 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.
UASM19677 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2000-05-19
UASM34642 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sandy Point Recreation Area
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G; Schmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-05-19
UASM57071 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-02
UASM57072 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-02
UASM57133 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-03
UASM57204 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Oldman River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-21
JD5476 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Orion
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Rose, A.
Date Collected2008-07-08
UASM185858 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Baker county, Brownlee
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-06-12
UASM185859 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, York county
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1997-03-20/1997-03-27
UASM185860 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Washington, Grant county, Moses Lake
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1994-05-21
UASM185861 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Seton Lake
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1995-06-03
UASM185862 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Malheur county, Malheur River
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-09-06
UASM185863 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Idaho, Cassia county
Date Collected2000-05-29/2000-05-30
UASM185864 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: California, San Diego county, Mira Mesa
Collected ByMustelin, T.
Date Collected1998-04-28
UASM185865 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Eight Dollar Mountain
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-06-15
UASM185866 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: New Mexico, Grant county, Mangas Springs
Collected ByFerris, C.
Date Collected2000-03-28/2000-03-29
UASM185867 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Okanagan Falls
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1990-07-03/1990-07-09
UASM185868 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Okanagan Falls
Collected ByTroubridge; Gardiner
Date Collected1992-04-26/1992-04-30
UASM185869 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Okanagan Falls
Collected ByTroubridge; Gardiner
Date Collected1992-05-01/1992-05-09
UASM185870 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Okanagan Falls
Collected ByTroubridge; Gardiner
Date Collected1992-05-23/1992-05-31
UASM185871 - Melipotis jucunda
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Rose, A.
Date Collected2008-07-08