Species Details

Macaria occiduaria

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

SeasonalityFlies from late June into August, peaking in mid July. IdentificationThe ground colour varies from tan-yellow to dull tan. There are always three, sometimes four, evenly spaced brown dashes along the forewing costa, and a well-developed brown PM band which extends from the anal margin at least midway to the costa. Some specimens have traces of an AM and median band. The hindwing is a shade lighter, and usually has a brown median band, often also a faint AM and PM band. Sexually dimorphic, with females smaller-winged, perhaps tending towards the flightless condition as in some other Itame species. Similar to I. sulphurea and I. ribearia, but the forewing fringe is brown from the apex to about the midway point, giving the forewing a notched appearance. I. ribearia has the fringe entirely yellow, while in sulphurea the fringe is entirely brown. Hesperumia sulphuraria (southern mountains only) does not have the series of notch-shaped marks along the costa as does Itame. There are also genitalic differences, illustrated by Forbes (1948) and McGuffin (1972). Some specimens of this species were initially reported in error as I. flavicaria by Bowman (1951). I. flavicaria does not occur in Canada (McGuffin 1972).

Scientific Name Macaria occiduaria Habitat Wooded and shrubby areas throughout much of Alberta. Seasonality Flies from late June into August, peaking in mid July. Identification
The ground colour varies from tan-yellow to dull tan. There are always three, sometimes four, evenly spaced brown dashes along the forewing costa, and a well-developed brown PM band which extends from the anal margin…
The ground colour varies from tan-yellow to dull tan. There are always three, sometimes four, evenly spaced brown dashes along the forewing costa, and a well-developed brown PM band which extends from the anal margin at least midway to the costa. Some specimens have traces of an AM and median band. The hindwing is a shade lighter, and usually has a brown median band, often also a faint AM and PM band. Sexually dimorphic, with females smaller-winged, perhaps tending towards the flightless condition as in some other Itame species. Similar to I. sulphurea and I. ribearia, but the forewing fringe is brown from the apex to about the midway point, giving the forewing a notched appearance. I. ribearia has the fringe entirely yellow, while in sulphurea the fringe is entirely brown. Hesperumia sulphuraria (southern mountains only) does not have the series of notch-shaped marks along the costa as does Itame. There are also genitalic differences, illustrated by Forbes (1948) and McGuffin (1972). Some specimens of this species were initially reported in error as I. flavicaria by Bowman (1951). I. flavicaria does not occur in Canada (McGuffin 1972).
Life History Males are attracted to light, but it is not clear if females are as well, since they have smaller wings and may have reduced flight capabilities. McGuffin (1956, 1972) describes the immature stages. Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info
Larvae have been reared from shrubs in the rose family including Saskatoon (Amelanchier), Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa), and currant (Ribes); also recorded from bog birch (Betula glandulosa), Bearberry…
Larvae have been reared from shrubs in the rose family including Saskatoon (Amelanchier), Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa), and currant (Ribes); also recorded from bog birch (Betula glandulosa), Bearberry (Arctostaphylus), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Range Southern ON to southern BC, south to CO (McGuffin 1972). Occurs north in Alberta to the Peace River region.

Citation

Page Citation for Macaria occiduaria

Page Citation

"Species Details - Macaria occiduaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3887. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Schmidt, B. C.
Role species page author
Date 2003-04

References

Specimen Information

There are 116 specimens of this Species.

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

UASM9178 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

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

UASM9208 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-04

UASM9213 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-07-04

UASM9218 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-06-28

UASM9220 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1920-07-20

UASM9225 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1936-07-18

UASM9226 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-07-19

UASM9228 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton Park Collected ByStrickland, Edgar H. Date Collected1923-07-10

UASM9229 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-07-16

UASM9230 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1920-08-01

UASM9231 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Bilby Collected ByBryant, Owen Date Collected1924-07-04

UASM9233 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-06-28

UASM9234 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1920-07-22

UASM9235 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1921-06-28

UASM9236 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1910-07-14

UASM9237 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, High River Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1921-08-25

UASM9238 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1920-07-19

UASM9239 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-06-28

UASM9242 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1940-08-11

UASM9243 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-07-22

UASM9244 - Macaria occiduaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-07-15

Adult Seasonal Distribution