Species Details
Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
SeasonalityAdults are on the wing in Alberta June to late August; main flight in the latter half of July.
IdentificationA medium-sized (3.2-3.6 cm wingspan) light grey or grey-brown (rearely pink) moth with white hindwings. Markings on the forewing obsolete or nearly so, except for the orbicular spot, which is frequently outlined in part at least with dark scales, and the renifom, which is filled with dark scales in the lower half. The postmedian line is usually indicated by a series of small dark dots, and the terminal area, including the fringe, is darker than the remainder of the wing. The hindwings are shining white, with some light brown shading forming a narrow terminal band. There is some brown scaling along the veins, including the discal bar. Closely related to E. quebecensis, which has dark hindwings and longer saccular extensions (.7-.9x length of harps, vs .3-.6x in scandens). Superficially similar to both Agrotis vetusta and Platyperigea montana, which have very different types of genitalia.
Euxoa scandens 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.
Scientific Name
Euxoa scandens
Habitat
Dry sandy areas; including dunes and beaches.
Seasonality
Adults are on the wing in Alberta June to late August; main flight in the latter half of July.
Identification
A medium-sized (3.2-3.6 cm wingspan) light grey or grey-brown (rearely pink) moth with white hindwings. Markings on the forewing obsolete or nearly so, except for the orbicular spot, which is frequently outlined in…
A medium-sized (3.2-3.6 cm wingspan) light grey or grey-brown (rearely pink) moth with white hindwings. Markings on the forewing obsolete or nearly so, except for the orbicular spot, which is frequently outlined in part at least with dark scales, and the renifom, which is filled with dark scales in the lower half. The postmedian line is usually indicated by a series of small dark dots, and the terminal area, including the fringe, is darker than the remainder of the wing. The hindwings are shining white, with some light brown shading forming a narrow terminal band. There is some brown scaling along the veins, including the discal bar. Closely related to E. quebecensis, which has dark hindwings and longer saccular extensions (.7-.9x length of harps, vs .3-.6x in scandens). Superficially similar to both Agrotis vetusta and Platyperigea montana, which have very different types of genitalia.
Euxoa scandens 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.
Life History
There is a single brood each year. The larvae (white cutworms) are climbing cutworms. The adults come to light.
Conservation
A common, widespread and occasional pest species; no concerns.
Diet Info
Sweet clover (Meliotus sp.), various vegetable crops and the leaves of young trees. (Lafontaine, 1987)
Range
Newfoundland south to Massachusettes west to Alberta, north to the Northwest Territories and south to central Montans and central Utah. In Alberta, they have been recorded from the foothills (Nordegg) and from the…
Newfoundland south to Massachusettes west to Alberta, north to the Northwest Territories and south to central Montans and central Utah. In Alberta, they have been recorded from the foothills (Nordegg) and from the southern edge of the boreal forest (Opal and Redwater) south.
Citation
Page Citation for Euxoa scandens
Page Citation
"Species Details - Euxoa scandens, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4273. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.
References
Author
Hardwick, D.
Title
The Genus Euxoa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in North America. Subgenera Orosagrotis, Longivesica, Chorizagrotis, Pleonectopoda, and Crassivessica.
Publication Date
1970
Series Title
Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Volume
37
Specimen Information
There are 61 specimens of this Species.
UASM114078 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114079 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-13
UASM114080 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114081 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114082 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-13
UASM114083 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114084 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114085 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114086 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-13
UASM114087 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-13
UASM114088 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114089 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114090 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114091 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114092 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114093 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1998-07-01
UASM114094 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-13
UASM114095 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Long Point
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected2004-07-20
UASM114096 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Long Point
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected2004-07-20
UASM114097 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Long Point
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected2004-07-20
UASM114098 - Euxoa scandens
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Long Point
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected2004-07-20