SeasonalityIn Alberta adults are on the wing from late June through mid-AugustIdentificationA medium-sized (3.8 - 5.0 cm wingspan) narrow-bodied rather drab mottled dark and light grey moth. The dentate white subterminal line is the most prominent marking and is bordered inwardly by small black wedges. Claviform, reniform and orbicular spots white outlined and largely filled with grey scales and thus rather obscure. Hindwings light grey with a dark discal dot, faint postmedian line and narrow, dark terminal line. Antennae simple. Sexes similar. Speciosa looks blurry and lacks the crisp contrasting dark grey or black appearance of X. mixta, with which it was formerly lumped and is often confused. The male genitalia are distinct. The genitalia of both sexes are illustrated by Lafontaine (1998). In the northern end of the mountains of Alberta speciosa often has dark phenotypes, in extreme cases almost melanic.
Scientific NameXestia speciosaHabitat
coniferous and mixedwood forest.
Seasonality
In Alberta adults are on the wing from late June through mid-August
Identification
A medium-sized (3.8 - 5.0 cm wingspan) narrow-bodied rather drab mottled dark and light grey moth. The dentate white subterminal line is the most prominent marking and is bordered inwardly by small black wedges.…
A medium-sized (3.8 - 5.0 cm wingspan) narrow-bodied rather drab mottled dark and light grey moth. The dentate white subterminal line is the most prominent marking and is bordered inwardly by small black wedges. Claviform, reniform and orbicular spots white outlined and largely filled with grey scales and thus rather obscure. Hindwings light grey with a dark discal dot, faint postmedian line and narrow, dark terminal line. Antennae simple. Sexes similar. Speciosa looks blurry and lacks the crisp contrasting dark grey or black appearance of X. mixta, with which it was formerly lumped and is often confused. The male genitalia are distinct. The genitalia of both sexes are illustrated by Lafontaine (1998). In the northern end of the mountains of Alberta speciosa often has dark phenotypes, in extreme cases almost melanic.
Life History
Adults are nocturnal and come to light. In Alberta adults are on the wing from late June through mid-August. The larva is described by Lafontaine (1998). Speciosa is polyphagus, and reported larval hosts include…
Adults are nocturnal and come to light. In Alberta adults are on the wing from late June through mid-August. The larva is described by Lafontaine (1998). Speciosa is polyphagus, and reported larval hosts include blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) (Ericaceae), Dwarf birch (Betula nana) (Betulaceae) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) (Asteraceae) (Lafontaine, 1998).
Diet InfoSpeciosa is polyphagus, and reported larval hosts include blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) (Ericaceae), Dwarf birch (Betula nana) (Betulaceae) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) (Asteraceae
Range
Holarctic. X. speciosa is widespread across the northern Palaearctic. In North America it is distributed across the arctic from AK west to Hudson Bay and south in the Rocky Mountains to CO. Two subspecies occur in…
Holarctic. X. speciosa is widespread across the northern Palaearctic. In North America it is distributed across the arctic from AK west to Hudson Bay and south in the Rocky Mountains to CO. Two subspecies occur in North America; subspecies arctica Zett. occurs in northern Canada, south to the northern parts of the mountains in Alberta. In the southern Alberta mountains and southward (including Cypress Hills) and south to CO arctica is replaced by ssp. apropitia Benj., a slightly larger darker form that was described from Banff specimens. Speciosa is found in coniferous and mixedwood forest.
Notes
Recent work on this genus by Mikkola, Lafontaine and Kononenko (1996) has resulted in a better understanding of the subgenera as well as some major changes in the nomenclature. It is possible that with further…
Recent work on this genus by Mikkola, Lafontaine and Kononenko (1996) has resulted in a better understanding of the subgenera as well as some major changes in the nomenclature. It is possible that with further research the North American forms may yet prove to be one or more species separate from Palaearctic speciosa. Hodges et al (1983) treated speciosa and apropitia as separate species, hence the dual MONA numbers. The illustrated specimen is subspecies arctica from YT. Most Alberta material examined tends to be broader-winged and frequently is darker.
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Citation
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Page Citation for Xestia speciosa
Page Citation
"Species Details - Xestia speciosa, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6226. Accessed 03 Nov. 2024.
References
AuthorLafontaine, J. D., K. Mikkola and V. S. Kononenko
TitleA revision of the genus Xestia subgenus Pachnobia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with descriptions of two new subspecies.
Publication Date1997
Series TitleEntomologica Scandinavica
Pages305-331
AuthorBowman, K.
TitleAn annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta.
Publication Date1951
Series TitleCanadian Journal of Zoology
Volume29
Pages121-165
AuthorHodges, R. W. et al.
TitleCheck List of the Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico
Publication Date1983
Pages284
AuthorLafontaine, J. Donald
TitleNoctuoidea : Noctuidae (part-Noctuini)
Publication Date1998
Pages348
Specimen Information
There are 66 specimens of this Species.
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66 results plotted on map in 23 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.