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Species Details

Trichordestra dodii

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

SeasonalityIn Alberta adults fly in June and July. IdentificationA medium-size (2.9-3.4 cm wingspan) red-brown and grey brown moth Smaller, darker and less strongly contrasting than tacoma. Ground dull to bright red-brown. Orbicular smaller and more oblong than in tacoma, and usually partially filled with brown scales. The most prominent marking on most specimens is the black claviform, which ranges in size from a small to large distally pointed spot or wedge. The terminal band is grey, suffused to some extent with brown scaling, not wide and clear blue grey as in tacoma. In tacoma, the space immediately below the reniform is usually black and matches the claviform, but in dodii it is red brown brown. The subterminal line is rusty-brown, and forms a shallow w-mark in the lower half in most specimens. The much rarer T. legitima is blue-grey and rust, closer in appearance to tacoma than to dodii. There are good genitalic characters for separating questionable specimens of Trichordestra.
Scientific Name Trichordestra dodii Habitat Mesic meadows, woodland edges and clearings. Seasonality In Alberta adults fly in June and July. Identification
A medium-size (2.9-3.4 cm wingspan) red-brown and grey brown moth Smaller, darker and less strongly contrasting than tacoma. Ground dull to bright red-brown. Orbicular smaller and more oblong than in tacoma, and…
A medium-size (2.9-3.4 cm wingspan) red-brown and grey brown moth Smaller, darker and less strongly contrasting than tacoma. Ground dull to bright red-brown. Orbicular smaller and more oblong than in tacoma, and usually partially filled with brown scales. The most prominent marking on most specimens is the black claviform, which ranges in size from a small to large distally pointed spot or wedge. The terminal band is grey, suffused to some extent with brown scaling, not wide and clear blue grey as in tacoma. In tacoma, the space immediately below the reniform is usually black and matches the claviform, but in dodii it is red brown brown. The subterminal line is rusty-brown, and forms a shallow w-mark in the lower half in most specimens. The much rarer T. legitima is blue-grey and rust, closer in appearance to tacoma than to dodii. There are good genitalic characters for separating questionable specimens of Trichordestra.
Life History Poorly known. Adults are nocturnal and come to light, but have also been taken during daylight hours. There is a single annual brood. Conservation A fairly common widespread moth; no concerns. Diet Info No information available. Range A western species, reported from Saskatchewan west to BC, south to Idaho and Colorado. In Alberta it is widespread in the cooler and more mesic parklands and southern boreal forest, rare or absent in the dry grasslands.
Trichordestra dodii
Trichordestra dodii

Citation

Page Citation for Trichordestra dodii

Page Citation

"Species Details - Trichordestra dodii, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4546. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Subfamily Hadeninae Genus Trichordestra Species Trichordestra dodii
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum