Species Details

Protitame virginalis

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

Common NameThe Virgin SeasonalityThe peak adult flight occurs throughout June. IdentificationOne of a number of similar looking, faintly marked white geometroid moths. The wings are cream-white and unmarked except for a fine specking of brown scales, particularly along the costa. No trace of discal spots or transverse lines. Very similar to Cabera variolaria, but in virginalis the male anntenal pectinations are much shorter, the frons (face) is cream not yellow and white, and the forelegs are grey not tan. Eudeilinea herminiata (Drepanidae) is similar but lacks any trace of the tan-scaled speckling. Subspecies hulstiaria Taylor has reduced speckling and a visible PM line; once treated as specifically distinct from virginalis, McGuffin (1972) considered it a clinal form of virginalis. Whether form hulstaria occurs in the southwest Alberta mountains remains to be documented; Prentice (1963) shows it occuring in BC east to the AB border.

Scientific Name Protitame virginalis Common Name The Virgin Habitat Mesic deciduous and mixedwood forests. Seasonality The peak adult flight occurs throughout June. Identification
One of a number of similar looking, faintly marked white geometroid moths. The wings are cream-white and unmarked except for a fine specking of brown scales, particularly along the costa. No trace of discal spots or…
One of a number of similar looking, faintly marked white geometroid moths. The wings are cream-white and unmarked except for a fine specking of brown scales, particularly along the costa. No trace of discal spots or transverse lines. Very similar to Cabera variolaria, but in virginalis the male anntenal pectinations are much shorter, the frons (face) is cream not yellow and white, and the forelegs are grey not tan. Eudeilinea herminiata (Drepanidae) is similar but lacks any trace of the tan-scaled speckling. Subspecies hulstiaria Taylor has reduced speckling and a visible PM line; once treated as specifically distinct from virginalis, McGuffin (1972) considered it a clinal form of virginalis. Whether form hulstaria occurs in the southwest Alberta mountains remains to be documented; Prentice (1963) shows it occuring in BC east to the AB border.
Life History McGuffin (1972) details the immature stages. Adults come to light and are often common. Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Larvae prefer trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), but also feed on other poplars and willows (Salix spp.) (Prentice 1963). Range Nova Scotia to BC and southern NWT, south to Colorado (McGuffin 1972).

Citation

Page Citation for Protitame virginalis

Page Citation

"Species Details - Protitame virginalis, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3896. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

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

References

Specimen Information

There are 100 specimens of this Species.

100 results plotted on map in 34 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD1523 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-11

BIRD1524 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-11

BIRD1525 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-14

BIRD1526 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-14

BIRD1527 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-18

BIRD1528 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-20

BIRD1529 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rochon Sands Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-07-03

BIRD1530 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-21

BIRD1531 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-23

BIRD1532 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-07

BIRD1533 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-07

BIRD1534 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-07

BIRD1535 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-07

BIRD1536 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-14

BIRD1537 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-17

BIRD1538 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-07-01

BIRD1847 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-06-17

BIRD3052 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-06-27

BIRD3053 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-07-07

BIRD3054 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-16

BIRD3055 - Protitame virginalis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-07-01

Adult Seasonal Distribution