University of Alberta Museums Search

A medium-sized moth (3.4-3.8 cm. wingspan) with a boldly patterned forewing. The basal area is light brown, followed by a broad black band and a cream median band. The narrow, black post median band forms a looping S. A large buff bent-oval shaped spot lies on the distal side of the reniform, and there is prominent rust-brown scaling in the subterminal area. The hindwings are white, with a broad black terminal band broken by a large, yellow-orange lunule. Vaguely similar species include Melipotis jucunda and Drasteria pallescens. Both have a much wider dark border on the hindwing, and white, not yellow, marginal lunules.

Mainly central Mexico north to central California, Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska, est to Arkansas and Alabama. A rare stray north to southern edge the paririe provinces. There is a single historical Alberta record for Calgary (Bowman, 1951).