Species Details

Egira variabilis

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

IdentificationA medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) variably mottled light and dark grey, black and red-brown moth. Body hairy, mottled black and white with a mostly white frons. Forewings usually medium grey. The large orbicular and reniform spots are frequently fused, and may be partly filled with brown scales. The area below the orbicular and outlining the reniform dark red-brown and black, extending outward along veins part way. Subterminal line visible as a line of white or light grey scales, expanding to a white or light red-brown streak above the anal angle. Fringe grey, lightly checkered at the veins with lighter scales. Hind wings dull white, liberally sprinkled with sooty brown scales. Veins lined with black scales, as well as a dark discal mark and a thin dark terminal line. Male antennae broadly bipectinate. Forewing markings are highly variable in color and shade, as implied by the name. The bipectinate antennae and brown-dusted hindwings will help separate it from similar species, as will the genitalia.

Scientific Name Egira variabilis Identification
A medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) variably mottled light and dark grey, black and red-brown moth. Body hairy, mottled black and white with a mostly white frons. Forewings usually medium grey. The large orbicular…
A medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) variably mottled light and dark grey, black and red-brown moth. Body hairy, mottled black and white with a mostly white frons. Forewings usually medium grey. The large orbicular and reniform spots are frequently fused, and may be partly filled with brown scales. The area below the orbicular and outlining the reniform dark red-brown and black, extending outward along veins part way. Subterminal line visible as a line of white or light grey scales, expanding to a white or light red-brown streak above the anal angle. Fringe grey, lightly checkered at the veins with lighter scales. Hind wings dull white, liberally sprinkled with sooty brown scales. Veins lined with black scales, as well as a dark discal mark and a thin dark terminal line. Male antennae broadly bipectinate. Forewing markings are highly variable in color and shade, as implied by the name. The bipectinate antennae and brown-dusted hindwings will help separate it from similar species, as will the genitalia.
Life History Poorly known. There is a single annual brood, which emerges in spring. The Alberta specimens we have seen were reared from larvae collected on Limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Range A western moth, ranging from extreme southeastern AB west into the dry southern interior of BC, south to Arizona, New Mexico and southern California. In Alberta it has been collected in the Crowsnest Pass area at Burmis.

Citation

Page Citation for Egira variabilis

Page Citation

"Species Details - Egira variabilis, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6383. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

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

References

Specimen Information

There are 17 specimens of this Species.

17 results plotted on map in 9 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM41538 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Burmis Collected ByForest Insect and Disease Survey Date Collected1905-05-06

UASM122575 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Wyoming, Albany county, Laramie Collected ByFerris, C. Date Collected2000-04-25

UASM122576 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Wyoming, Albany county, Laramie Collected ByFerris, C. Date Collected2000-04-25

UASM122577 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Wyoming, Albany county, Laramie Collected ByFerris, C. Date Collected2000-05-05

UASM122578 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Enderby Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1995-04-01/1995-04-10

UASM122579 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Illinois River Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Troubridge, L. Date Collected1996-04-04

UASM122580 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1994-04-01/1994-04-10

UASM122581 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1994-04-01/1994-04-10

UASM122582 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1994-04-01/1994-04-10

UASM122583 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1994-04-01/1994-04-10

UASM122584 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Salmon Arm Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Borkent Date Collected1994-04-01/1994-04-10

UASM122585 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Ross Lake Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1994-04-09

UASM122586 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Ventura county, Apache Canyon Collected ByDimock, T. Date Collected1997-04-04

UASM122587 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Oregon, Josephine county, Eight Dollar Mountain Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Troubridge, L. Date Collected1996-04-05

UASM122588 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Squirrel Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected2001-05-21

UASM122589 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Squirrel Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J.; Crabo, L. Date Collected2002-06-03

UASM122590 - Egira variabilis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: California, Plumas county, Squirrel Creek Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-06-14

Adult Seasonal Distribution