Seasonalitylate JuneIdentificationA medium-size moth (approx. 3.7 cm wingspan) with straw yellow forewings tinted with orange or pink to varying degrees. The forewings often have slightly darker shading under the basal half of the median line, and there is a small white spot at the end of the cell. The postmedian line is usually indicated by a few small dots at the veins. The hindwings are white with a light tint of the forewing color. The antennae are filiform and the sexes are alike. The pink form of L. anteoclara "calgariana" may be superficially indistinguishable, and the genitalia must be examined for a positive identification. The single large spine of anteoclara is located on a much longer diverticulum that also has a small "ear". This diverticulum is essentially lacking in farcta, and the spine is oriented back toward the base. Other Alberta Leucania have more strongly marked forewings and/or dark hindwings.
Scientific NameLeucania farctaHabitat
meadows and other open grassy habitats
Seasonality
late June
Identification
A medium-size moth (approx. 3.7 cm wingspan) with straw yellow forewings tinted with orange or pink to varying degrees. The forewings often have slightly darker shading under the basal half of the median line, and…
A medium-size moth (approx. 3.7 cm wingspan) with straw yellow forewings tinted with orange or pink to varying degrees. The forewings often have slightly darker shading under the basal half of the median line, and there is a small white spot at the end of the cell. The postmedian line is usually indicated by a few small dots at the veins. The hindwings are white with a light tint of the forewing color. The antennae are filiform and the sexes are alike. The pink form of L. anteoclara "calgariana" may be superficially indistinguishable, and the genitalia must be examined for a positive identification. The single large spine of anteoclara is located on a much longer diverticulum that also has a small "ear". This diverticulum is essentially lacking in farcta, and the spine is oriented back toward the base. Other Alberta Leucania have more strongly marked forewings and/or dark hindwings.
Life History
The adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single annual brood. The larval hosts of most Leucania, and probably also farcta, are grasses. Like most Leucania, farcta frequents meadows and other open grassy…
The adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single annual brood. The larval hosts of most Leucania, and probably also farcta, are grasses. Like most Leucania, farcta frequents meadows and other open grassy habitats. The lone Alberta specimen was collected in late June.
Diet Info
The larval hosts are grasses.
Range
A western moth, common throughout much of BC and southward; north to the southern Yukon. Thus far known in Alberta only from a recent (2006) specimen collected near Jasper by Chris Schmidt and myself.
Notes
Leucania farcta is one of 5 species of Leucania found in Alberta. It is very closely related to L. anteoclara and is almost impossible to tell from the pink forms of anteoclara without checking the genitalia. The pink…
Leucania farcta is one of 5 species of Leucania found in Alberta. It is very closely related to L. anteoclara and is almost impossible to tell from the pink forms of anteoclara without checking the genitalia. The pink forms of anteoclara are not uncommon in the mountains and foothills. We have dissected specimens from Waterton to Jasper, but found only the single specimen of farcta. In turn, all specimens we examined from southeastern BC proved to be farcta.
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Citation
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Page Citation for Leucania farcta
Page Citation
"Species Details - Leucania farcta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6079. Accessed 13 Sep. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 68 specimens of this Species.
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65 results plotted on map in 41 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.