Species Details
Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameSmall Pebble, Common Gluphisia
SeasonalityAdults are on the wing from late May through early September.
IdentificationA small to medium-sized (2.5-3.3 cm. wingspan) round-winged dark grey and brown moth. The normal lines are darker and somewhat diffuse, with the antemedian line straight and the postmedian line concave in two waves. The basal and median areas have yellowish or buff shading and few to many raised black scales (these scales absent in all other Gluphisia sp.). The hindwings are dark like the forewings. The male antennae are broadly pectinate, narrowly so in female. All other Gluphisia sp. fly only in spring, and are significantly larger. Specimens from the boreal forest and parklands are darker and contrasting; those from the valleys of the arid plains are much paler and less contrasting.
Scientific Name
Gluphisia septentrionis
Common Name
Small Pebble, Common Gluphisia
Habitat
Poplar forest and mixedwood forest with poplar.
Seasonality
Adults are on the wing from late May through early September.
Identification
A small to medium-sized (2.5-3.3 cm. wingspan) round-winged dark grey and brown moth. The normal lines are darker and somewhat diffuse, with the antemedian line straight and the postmedian line concave in two waves.…
A small to medium-sized (2.5-3.3 cm. wingspan) round-winged dark grey and brown moth. The normal lines are darker and somewhat diffuse, with the antemedian line straight and the postmedian line concave in two waves. The basal and median areas have yellowish or buff shading and few to many raised black scales (these scales absent in all other Gluphisia sp.). The hindwings are dark like the forewings. The male antennae are broadly pectinate, narrowly so in female. All other Gluphisia sp. fly only in spring, and are significantly larger. Specimens from the boreal forest and parklands are darker and contrasting; those from the valleys of the arid plains are much paler and less contrasting.
Life History
The adults are nocturnal and come to light. The larvae are solitary defoliators. They overwinter as pupae. There is either a staggered extended emergence, or two overlapping broods.
Conservation
A common, widespread species. No concerns.
Diet Info
No specific Alberta data available; elsewhere in Canada poplars (Populus sp.), in particular Trembling aspen (P. tremuloides) and Balsam poplar (P. balsamifera).
Range
From Nova Scotia west to Vancouver Island, north to Hudson's Bay, south to Georgia and California. Found throughout Alberta wherever poplars occur, from the river valleys of the arid plains north through the Boreal…
From Nova Scotia west to Vancouver Island, north to Hudson's Bay, south to Georgia and California. Found throughout Alberta wherever poplars occur, from the river valleys of the arid plains north through the Boreal forest, and into the mountains.
Citation
Page Citation for Gluphisia septentrionis
Page Citation
"Species Details - Gluphisia septentrionis, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-500. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
References
Author
Prentice, R. M.
Title
Forest Lepidoptera of Canada. (1962)
Publication Date
1962
Volume
2
Pages
281
Specimen Information
There are 195 specimens of this Species.
UASM43065 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-06-11
UASM19582 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1999-08-13
UASM24752 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nojack Provincial Recreation Area
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2001-06-15
UASM34329 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected2000-07-12
UASM34935 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gem
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-05-22
UASM41525 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sandy Point Recreation Area
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-05-19
UASM58378 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1997-06-02
UASM58379 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1999-09-07
BIRD5955 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-04
BIRD5956 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rochon Sands Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-09
BIRD5957 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-10
BIRD5958 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-20
BIRD5959 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-24
BIRD5960 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rochon Sands Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-27
BIRD5961 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-29
BIRD5962 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-06
BIRD5963 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-10
BIRD5964 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-12
BIRD5965 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-16
UASM78201 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Sand River
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Macaulay, S. H.
Date Collected2004-07-11
UASM57573 - Gluphisia septentrionis
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2005-06-29