Species Details

Euxoa tristicula

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

SeasonalityAdults in Alberta late May-early September; peak flight in late June and July. IdentificationA medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) light grey moth. Head and body grey, with a contrasting black thoracic collar. The forewings are light grey, with the costa even paler, especially near the base. The normal lines are obsolete or nearly so, indicated by a few dark scales at best. There is a prominent black basal streak, and the area proximal to the orbicular and between the orbicular and the reniform is filled with black scales. The subterminal line is faintly marked with dark scales, especially near the costa. The fringe is grey. The hindwings are dirty white, with the veins lightly marked with darker scales. The fringe is white. Form nesilens lacks the prominent black markings on the forewings and the thoracic collar. The relatively large size, pale grey color and sharp black markings will separate most tristicula from other Euxoa sp. Euxoa tristicula 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. See also Agrotis vetusta.

Scientific Name Euxoa tristicula Habitat Cultivated areas and dry open habitats with light soils. Seasonality Adults in Alberta late May-early September; peak flight in late June and July. Identification
A medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) light grey moth. Head and body grey, with a contrasting black thoracic collar. The forewings are light grey, with the costa even paler, especially near the base. The normal lines…
A medium-size (3.5-4.0 cm wingspan) light grey moth. Head and body grey, with a contrasting black thoracic collar. The forewings are light grey, with the costa even paler, especially near the base. The normal lines are obsolete or nearly so, indicated by a few dark scales at best. There is a prominent black basal streak, and the area proximal to the orbicular and between the orbicular and the reniform is filled with black scales. The subterminal line is faintly marked with dark scales, especially near the costa. The fringe is grey. The hindwings are dirty white, with the veins lightly marked with darker scales. The fringe is white. Form nesilens lacks the prominent black markings on the forewings and the thoracic collar. The relatively large size, pale grey color and sharp black markings will separate most tristicula from other Euxoa sp. Euxoa tristicula 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. See also Agrotis vetusta.
Life History
There is a single annual brood, which overwinters as nearly mature larvae. The larvae feed just below the surface, with the main feeding activity in the fall and early spring. Because of the late season-early season…
There is a single annual brood, which overwinters as nearly mature larvae. The larvae feed just below the surface, with the main feeding activity in the fall and early spring. Because of the late season-early season feeding period it is not a serious crop pest. The adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Conservation A common widespread species, no concerns. Diet Info The larvae are reported to feed on a variety of broad-leaved herbs, including alfalfa (Medicago), sugarbeets and flax (Linum). Range
Apparently disjunct, with colonies in Nova Scotia and Maine. The main population occurs from Manitoba and Minnesota west to Vancouver Island, and from the Northwest Territories south to Arizona and southern…
Apparently disjunct, with colonies in Nova Scotia and Maine. The main population occurs from Manitoba and Minnesota west to Vancouver Island, and from the Northwest Territories south to Arizona and southern Califormia. In Alberta it has been collected throughout much of the cultivated region, from Edmonton south.

Citation

Page Citation for Euxoa tristicula

Page Citation

"Species Details - Euxoa tristicula, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3876. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 187 specimens of this Species.

187 results plotted on map in 66 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM17453 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-22

UASM17463 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-22

UASM17475 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-06-19

UASM17476 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-23

UASM17477 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-07-13

UASM17478 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-21

UASM17479 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-02

UASM17480 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-02

UASM17481 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1916-07-12

UASM17482 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-06-21

UASM17483 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1918-07-05

UASM17484 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1939-07-15

UASM17485 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-06-25

UASM17486 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-07-10

UASM17487 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cooking Lake Date Collected1918-07-15

UASM17488 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-21

UASM17489 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByCrosby, G. C. S. Date Collected1923-06-24

UASM17490 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-02

UASM17491 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-07-08

UASM17492 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-05

UASM17493 - Euxoa tristicula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-07-22

Adult Seasonal Distribution