Species Details

Photedes defecta

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

Common NameNarrow-winged Borer IdentificationA small (approx. 2.5 cm wingspan) rather delicately built moth. Forewing color may vary from a rich deep yellow-brown to light tan, with the veins outlined in lighter tan scales, giving it a very streaky appearance. The most prominent marking is the darker brown shade forming a streak above and adjacent to the cubital vein and continuing on to the margin. There is a small dark dot with a partial white margin at the end of the cell. The antemedian line is indicated by a few small dark dots at the veins. The dots marking the postmedian line are doubled and more numerous, and there is a dark terminal line made up of dark dots or short dashes. The hindwings are similar but paler, with a narrow poorly defined grey median band and discal mark. The overall color varies somewhat, with some specimens being dark brown or almost melanic. Antennae are simple and the sexes are similar. Similar to but smaller and more slender-bodied than Leucania and Mythimna species.

Scientific Name Photedes defecta Common Name Narrow-winged Borer Habitat It is associated with wetlands including fens, wet meadows, sedge meadows and wetland edges. Identification
A small (approx. 2.5 cm wingspan) rather delicately built moth. Forewing color may vary from a rich deep yellow-brown to light tan, with the veins outlined in lighter tan scales, giving it a very streaky appearance.…
A small (approx. 2.5 cm wingspan) rather delicately built moth. Forewing color may vary from a rich deep yellow-brown to light tan, with the veins outlined in lighter tan scales, giving it a very streaky appearance. The most prominent marking is the darker brown shade forming a streak above and adjacent to the cubital vein and continuing on to the margin. There is a small dark dot with a partial white margin at the end of the cell. The antemedian line is indicated by a few small dark dots at the veins. The dots marking the postmedian line are doubled and more numerous, and there is a dark terminal line made up of dark dots or short dashes. The hindwings are similar but paler, with a narrow poorly defined grey median band and discal mark. The overall color varies somewhat, with some specimens being dark brown or almost melanic. Antennae are simple and the sexes are similar. Similar to but smaller and more slender-bodied than Leucania and Mythimna species.
Life History
The adults are nocturnal and are attracted to light Adults have been collected from late July through late September, and the data suggest a main flight in early-mid August with a smaller and possibly second brood in…
The adults are nocturnal and are attracted to light Adults have been collected from late July through late September, and the data suggest a main flight in early-mid August with a smaller and possibly second brood in mid-late September. The larvae are most likely borers in the stems of one or more wetland plants.
Conservation Photedes defecta is listed as a rare species of conservation concern in some of the Midwestern states like Illinois, where it occurs in wet remnant prairie. Range
Maryland and Massachusetts north to New Brunswick, west to North Dakota and BC. In Alberta it has been collected mainly in the aspen parklands and boreal forest, although Bowman also reported it from the Calgary and…
Maryland and Massachusetts north to New Brunswick, west to North Dakota and BC. In Alberta it has been collected mainly in the aspen parklands and boreal forest, although Bowman also reported it from the Calgary and Medicine Hat regions.

Citation

Page Citation for Photedes defecta

Page Citation

"Species Details - Photedes defecta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6376. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

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

References

Specimen Information

There are 38 specimens of this Species.

38 results plotted on map in 15 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM14751 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-08-18

UASM14753 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-08-15

UASM14758 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1921-07-29

UASM14760 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1921-07-27

UASM14761 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1945-08-15

UASM14762 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-08-12

UASM14763 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-07-28

UASM14764 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-09-12

UASM14765 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1920-08-13

UASM14768 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-08-16

UASM14769 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-08-04

UASM14771 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-09-10

UASM14772 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-08-04

UASM14773 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-09-11

UASM14774 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1934-08-03

UASM14775 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-08-01

UASM7145 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected1999-08-14

UASM34363 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wagner Natural Area Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1999-09-16

BIRD8292 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-08-17

BIRD8293 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-08-09

BIRD8294 - Photedes defecta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Conservation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2004-07-25

Adult Seasonal Distribution