Species Details

Xestia perquiritata

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

SeasonalityIn Alberta, with adults from late June through early August IdentificationA medium-sized (3.8 - 4.5 cm. wingspan) grey, black and white moth. Forewings light to dark gray, usually with white scaling in the clavicorn spot and with filled-filled white orbicular and boomerang-shaped reniform spots. The subterminal line is a wave-shaped chain of small white spots. Hind wings paler grey, with a dark discal spot, wavy median line, darker shading toward the margin and a broken dark marginal line. Very similar to X. speciosa, but in perquiritata the orbicular spot is small and round and the reniform spot is a diagnostic boomerang–shaped lunule; both are white filled with less of the dark inner shading found in speciosa. Sexes similar and antennae simple. Male genitalia of speciosa have valves with a broadly rounded tip, while the valve of perquiritata ends in a narrow tapered point, with two large "teeth" along the lower margin.

Scientific Name Xestia perquiritata Habitat Found in coniferous woodland Seasonality In Alberta, with adults from late June through early August Identification
A medium-sized (3.8 - 4.5 cm. wingspan) grey, black and white moth. Forewings light to dark gray, usually with white scaling in the clavicorn spot and with filled-filled white orbicular and boomerang-shaped reniform…
A medium-sized (3.8 - 4.5 cm. wingspan) grey, black and white moth. Forewings light to dark gray, usually with white scaling in the clavicorn spot and with filled-filled white orbicular and boomerang-shaped reniform spots. The subterminal line is a wave-shaped chain of small white spots. Hind wings paler grey, with a dark discal spot, wavy median line, darker shading toward the margin and a broken dark marginal line. Very similar to X. speciosa, but in perquiritata the orbicular spot is small and round and the reniform spot is a diagnostic boomerang–shaped lunule; both are white filled with less of the dark inner shading found in speciosa. Sexes similar and antennae simple. Male genitalia of speciosa have valves with a broadly rounded tip, while the valve of perquiritata ends in a narrow tapered point, with two large "teeth" along the lower margin.
Life History
Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single brood in Alberta, with adults from late June through early August. The larvae is described and illustrated in color by Duncan (2006). Larvae feed on a variety…
Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single brood in Alberta, with adults from late June through early August. The larvae is described and illustrated in color by Duncan (2006). Larvae feed on a variety of conifers, in particular spruce, firs and tamarack (Prentice 1962; Duncan 2006).
Diet Info Larvae feed on a variety of conifers, in particular spruce, firs and tamarack Range
NFLD west to AK, YT and central BC; south to NC in the east and OR and CO in the west. The nominate subspecies is boreal, and is replaced in the mountains from southern AB south and west by the larger darker subspecies…
NFLD west to AK, YT and central BC; south to NC in the east and OR and CO in the west. The nominate subspecies is boreal, and is replaced in the mountains from southern AB south and west by the larger darker subspecies partita (McD.) In Alberta the nominate subspecies occurs throughout the boreal forest region, and is replaced by ssp. partita in the mountains. Found in coniferous woodland

Citation

Page Citation for Xestia perquiritata

Page Citation

"Species Details - Xestia perquiritata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6223. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author
Date 2007

References

Specimen Information

There are 75 specimens of this Species.

75 results plotted on map in 30 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM108980 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1994-06-29

UASM103389 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Hilchie, G. Date Collected2007-07-16

UASM103394 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Cote Creek Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Hilchie, G. Date Collected2007-07-13

UASM188360 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1945-07-28

UASM188361 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1950-08-01

UASM188362 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park Collected ByJohnson, T.; Vuinovic, D. Date Collected2003-07-16

UASM188363 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1921-07-19

UASM188364 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1923-07-27

UASM188365 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1926-07-20

UASM188366 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1938-07-23

UASM188367 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1938-07-23

BIRD37118 - Xestia perquiritata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2013-08-10

Adult Seasonal Distribution