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Species Details
Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
IdentificationA medium size moth (forewing length about 35 mm) with dark blackish brown or reddish brown forewings crossed by darker antemedian and postmedian lines. The hindwings are dark brown. It can be separated from the very similar A. vancouverensis by the elongate hollow basal dash and claviform streak filled with brown scales (black filled in vancouverensis). It is also similar to and difficult to separate from Agrotis volubilis. Males of volubilis have pale whitish wings while those of obliqua are dark. Many specimens of vancouverensis and obliqua are difficult to separate, and are frequently found misidentified in collections
Scientific Name
Agrotis obliqua
Habitat
In Alberta is most common in the wooded parts of the parklands and foothills, but also can be found throughout the boreal forest and in wooded valleys in the grasslands region.
Identification
A medium size moth (forewing length about 35 mm) with dark blackish brown or reddish brown forewings crossed by darker antemedian and postmedian lines. The hindwings are dark brown. It can be separated from the very…
A medium size moth (forewing length about 35 mm) with dark blackish brown or reddish brown forewings crossed by darker antemedian and postmedian lines. The hindwings are dark brown. It can be separated from the very similar A. vancouverensis by the elongate hollow basal dash and claviform streak filled with brown scales (black filled in vancouverensis). It is also similar to and difficult to separate from Agrotis volubilis. Males of volubilis have pale whitish wings while those of obliqua are dark. Many specimens of vancouverensis and obliqua are difficult to separate, and are frequently found misidentified in collections
Life History
Although this is not an uncommon moth, the life history is poorly known. The immature stages and host plants are unknown. There is a single annual brood with adults in the spring and early summer.
Range
Agrotis obliqua is a widespread moth, found from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, and from Churchill to southern Arizona.
Citation
Page Citation for Agrotis obliqua
Page Citation
"Species Details - Agrotis obliqua, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5293/9-53647. Accessed 06 Feb. 2025.
References
Author
Lafontaine, J. Donald
Title
Noctuoidea : Noctuidae (part)
Publication Date
2004
Pages
385 pp.
Specimen Information
There are 108 specimens of this Species.
UASM17202 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1909-06-15
UASM17204 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-17
UASM17210 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1942-05-28
UASM17213 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-07-16
UASM17214 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-07-19
UASM17215 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1918-07-18
UASM17222 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1940-06-06
UASM17228 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1922-07-19
UASM17232 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1922-06-08
UASM17233 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-06-15
UASM17234 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Hillcrest
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-06-24
UASM17236 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-15
UASM17238 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-16
UASM17239 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-06-04
UASM17241 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-06-12
UASM17242 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Hillcrest
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-06-20
UASM17245 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1918-06-09
UASM17248 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-15
UASM7243 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected1999-06-24
UASM7383 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-06-21
UASM24515 - Agrotis obliqua
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Troubridge, J.
Date Collected2000-06-28/2000-06-29