Species Details

Gluphisia avimacula

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

Common NameAvimacula Pebble SeasonalityThe adults are on the wing in late May-early June. IdentificationA medium-size (3.3-4.0 cm. wingspans) grey and grey-brown moth. The forewing is obscurely banded, with a small yellow-gold spot near the wing base and another at the reniform. The hindwing is dark brown. Most easily confused with G. lintneri, which is paler, especially on the hindwings, and which lacks the gold spots on the forewings. The antennae are pectinate (broadly in male, narrowly in female). The three large species of Gluphisia can also be separated by male genitalic characters, notably the shape of the juxta, transtilla and uncus. In avimacula, the uncus is moderately excavated, the lobes broadly acute, the lobes of the transtilla are long and acute, the juxta broad and widely excavated with the lobes narrow and rounded.

Scientific Name Gluphisia avimacula Common Name Avimacula Pebble Habitat Poplar and mixedwood forest with poplar. Seasonality The adults are on the wing in late May-early June. Identification
A medium-size (3.3-4.0 cm. wingspans) grey and grey-brown moth. The forewing is obscurely banded, with a small yellow-gold spot near the wing base and another at the reniform. The hindwing is dark brown. Most easily…
A medium-size (3.3-4.0 cm. wingspans) grey and grey-brown moth. The forewing is obscurely banded, with a small yellow-gold spot near the wing base and another at the reniform. The hindwing is dark brown. Most easily confused with G. lintneri, which is paler, especially on the hindwings, and which lacks the gold spots on the forewings. The antennae are pectinate (broadly in male, narrowly in female). The three large species of Gluphisia can also be separated by male genitalic characters, notably the shape of the juxta, transtilla and uncus. In avimacula, the uncus is moderately excavated, the lobes broadly acute, the lobes of the transtilla are long and acute, the juxta broad and widely excavated with the lobes narrow and rounded.
Life History
The Avimacula Pebble emerges from the pupae in the spring a week or two after Lintner's Pebble. The adults are nocturnal and come to light. The larvae are solitary defoliators, and they overwinter as pupae. There is…
The Avimacula Pebble emerges from the pupae in the spring a week or two after Lintner's Pebble. The adults are nocturnal and come to light. The larvae are solitary defoliators, and they overwinter as pupae. There is a single brood annually.
Conservation Very uncommon in Alberta, at the northwestern edge of their range. Diet Info No data. However, most likely a poplar feeder like the other members of the genus. Range Found across much of the wooded portions of southern Canada, from Nova Scotia west to east central Alberta (Lac la Biche), south to New York.

Citation

Page Citation for Gluphisia avimacula

Page Citation

"Species Details - Gluphisia avimacula, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-498. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author

Specimen Information

There are 10 specimens of this Species.

10 results plotted on map in 9 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM2525 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lac La Biche Collected ByPohl, G. Date Collected1994-05-31

UASM56893 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Davis Brook Collected ByThomas, A. W. Date Collected1991-05-13

UASM210665 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Fundy National Park Collected ByThomas, A. W. Date Collected1996-05-27

UASM210666 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Fundy National Park Collected ByThomas, A. W. Date Collected1994-05-22

UASM210667 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Fredericton Collected ByThomas, A. W. Date Collected1974-06-04

UASM187065 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Edmundston Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1989-05-07

UASM187066 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Nova Scotia, Springville Collected ByHensel, G. Date Collected1993-05-25

UASM187067 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Fort Steele Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2004-05-15

UASM187068 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Stittsville Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2003-04-21

UASM187069 - Gluphisia avimacula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Stittsville Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2003-05-19

Adult Seasonal Distribution