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Species Details

Trichordestra legitima

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

Common NameStriped Garden Caterpillar SeasonalityThe only Alberta record is a single specimen collected July 18, 2001. IdentificationA medium-size moth (approx. 2.7 –3.833 cm wingspan). Forewings blue-grey moth with rust and black markings. The basal area and the area in and around the reniform rust brown, area before and lower part of reniform black. Orbicular large, clear blue grey. The claviform spot is a contrasting small black or brown filled wedge. Very similar to T. rugosa and in particular T. tacoma, but both lack the rust-brown on the forewings found in legitima. There are also differences in the male genitalia.
Scientific Name Trichordestra legitima Common Name Striped Garden Caterpillar Habitat Occurs in meadows, clearings, edges, gardens. etc. Seasonality The only Alberta record is a single specimen collected July 18, 2001. Identification
A medium-size moth (approx. 2.7 –3.833 cm wingspan). Forewings blue-grey moth with rust and black markings. The basal area and the area in and around the reniform rust brown, area before and lower part of reniform…
A medium-size moth (approx. 2.7 –3.833 cm wingspan). Forewings blue-grey moth with rust and black markings. The basal area and the area in and around the reniform rust brown, area before and lower part of reniform black. Orbicular large, clear blue grey. The claviform spot is a contrasting small black or brown filled wedge. Very similar to T. rugosa and in particular T. tacoma, but both lack the rust-brown on the forewings found in legitima. There are also differences in the male genitalia.
Life History Adults are nocturnal and come to light, but also fly and nectar during cloudy days. There is a single annual brood. Diet Info
Crumb (1956) reported it was a general feeder, and Handfield (1999) lists over 20 genera of plants. Preferred hosts include slender grasses in the genera Muhlengergia and Agrostis (Godfrey). An occasional pest of…
Crumb (1956) reported it was a general feeder, and Handfield (1999) lists over 20 genera of plants. Preferred hosts include slender grasses in the genera Muhlengergia and Agrostis (Godfrey). An occasional pest of garden vegetables, tobacco, grasses and other plantings (Covell, 1984).
Range Widespread in eastern North America; in Canada from Newfoundland west to extreme northeastern Alberta. Notes The only Alberta record is a single specimen collected July 18, 2001 on the north shore of Lake Athabasca. The illustrated specimen is from Ontario.

Citation

Page Citation for Trichordestra legitima

Page Citation

"Species Details - Trichordestra legitima, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5138/9-172692. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 23 specimens of this Species.

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

UASM120999 - Trichordestra legitima

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Nova Scotia, Springville Collected ByHensel, G. Date Collected1996-06-03

UASM121000 - Trichordestra legitima

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Quebec, Degelis Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1996-06-19

Adult Seasonal Distribution