Species Details

Epirrhoe sperryi

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

Common NameSmall Argent & Sable IdentificationA small (1.8-2.0 cm wingspan) day-flying moth with black and white wings. The black forewings are crossed by a basal line of scattered white scales, a more prominent white antemedian band and a prominent white postmedian band divided by a series of small black dots and bent sharply outward near the midpoint. The subterminal area is black and is crossed by a subterminal line consisting of a series of small white crescents. Essentially the same pattern occurs on the hindwings. The fringe is black checkered with white at the veins. Very similar to forms of both Rheumaptera hastata and Rheumaptera subhastata, both of which are larger and usually have more extensive areas of black or white. E. alternata is also larger and is mostly grey, not black, and lacks the crisp, busy pattern of sperryi.

Scientific Name Epirrhoe sperryi Common Name Small Argent & Sable Habitat It frequents open wooded areas, edges, etc. Identification
A small (1.8-2.0 cm wingspan) day-flying moth with black and white wings. The black forewings are crossed by a basal line of scattered white scales, a more prominent white antemedian band and a prominent white…
A small (1.8-2.0 cm wingspan) day-flying moth with black and white wings. The black forewings are crossed by a basal line of scattered white scales, a more prominent white antemedian band and a prominent white postmedian band divided by a series of small black dots and bent sharply outward near the midpoint. The subterminal area is black and is crossed by a subterminal line consisting of a series of small white crescents. Essentially the same pattern occurs on the hindwings. The fringe is black checkered with white at the veins. Very similar to forms of both Rheumaptera hastata and Rheumaptera subhastata, both of which are larger and usually have more extensive areas of black or white. E. alternata is also larger and is mostly grey, not black, and lacks the crisp, busy pattern of sperryi.
Life History E. sperryi is a diurnal moth. There is a single brood in Alberta, with adults from early May through early July, with the peak in June. The early stages and larval hosts are apparently unknown. Diet Info Unknown, but other closely related Palaearctic species all feed on species of bedstraw (Gallium), which is the likely host for sperryi as well. Range NL to YT. In Alberta it has been collected in the Boreal, Parklands and Mountain regions, where it is locally common. Notes
Until described as a separate species by Herbulot in 1951, sperryi was thought to be conspecific with Palaearctic E. tristata (L.) and was listed by both Bowman and Jones as E. tristata. There are several closely…
Until described as a separate species by Herbulot in 1951, sperryi was thought to be conspecific with Palaearctic E. tristata (L.) and was listed by both Bowman and Jones as E. tristata. There are several closely related and almost identical looking species in the Palaearctic. The specimen illustrated above is from Dry Island P. Pk., AB.

Citation

Page Citation for Epirrhoe sperryi

Page Citation

"Species Details - Epirrhoe sperryi, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6164. Accessed 04 Nov. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 31 specimens of this Species.

31 results plotted on map in 18 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD16664 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-05-28

BIRD17659 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2006-05-19

BIRD17660 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2006-06-12

JD0121 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Peace River Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Bromilow, S. Date Collected2006-05-10

UASM95829 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dillberry Lake Provincial Park Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2001-05-26

UASM95831 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Water Valley Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1994-06-11

UASM95882 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wagner Fen Natural Area Collected ByNgui, A. Date Collected1999-06-05/1999-06-08

BIRD21918 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2008-08-04

UASM187904 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tangent Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Bromilow, S. Date Collected2006-05-10

BIRD35778 - Epirrhoe sperryi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2012-05-26

Adult Seasonal Distribution