University of Alberta Museums Search

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.

Another western moth that barely reaches Alberta in the warm dry forests that spills over from southeastern BC in the extreme southwestern corner of the Alberta. We have seen only two specimens, both reared from larvae collected by the Forest Insect and Disease Survey many years ago.