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Species Details

Anarta nigrolunata

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

IdentificationA small diurnal moth with mottled black and grey forewings with a large dark reniform spot, and white hindwings with a wide dark border and a prominent black discal lunule (hence the name). Very similar in both appearance and habits to Sympistis zetterstedti. The easiest way to separate the two species is by checking the ventral surface, which has prominent black fore- and hind wing discal lunules in Anarta lacking in Sympistis (see lower figure).
Scientific Name Anarta nigrolunata Habitat Open alpine and subalpine habitats. Identification
A small diurnal moth with mottled black and grey forewings with a large dark reniform spot, and white hindwings with a wide dark border and a prominent black discal lunule (hence the name). Very similar in both…
A small diurnal moth with mottled black and grey forewings with a large dark reniform spot, and white hindwings with a wide dark border and a prominent black discal lunule (hence the name). Very similar in both appearance and habits to Sympistis zetterstedti. The easiest way to separate the two species is by checking the ventral surface, which has prominent black fore- and hind wing discal lunules in Anarta lacking in Sympistis (see lower figure).
Life History Poorly known. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers. There is a single annual brood. Range Widespread across the Arctic abnd alpine regions of Canada. In Alberta reported only from the Nordegg area. Notes
Very closely related and previously treated as conspecific with Palearctic Anarta melanopa. These little moths may be quite common in open subalpine and alpine areas where they actively visit flowers along with the…
Very closely related and previously treated as conspecific with Palearctic Anarta melanopa. These little moths may be quite common in open subalpine and alpine areas where they actively visit flowers along with the bees. The have the rapid buzzing flight characteristic of the other small diurnal noctuids( i.e. Heliothis and Sympistis) and can be quite difficult to observe closely or to capture.

Citation

Page Citation for Anarta nigrolunata

Page Citation

"Species Details - Anarta nigrolunata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6125. Accessed 06 Feb. 2023.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Subfamily Hadeninae Genus Anarta Species Anarta nigrolunata
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum