Common NameLangton's or Six-spotted ForesterIdentificationA medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) jet-black moth with 2 large pale yellow or cream spots on each forewing and one (female) or two (males) large cream or white spots on the hindwings. The tegulae (scale patch on "shoulders") are pale yellow, and the legs have orange tufts. Other Alberta Foresters have prominent black linings along the veins across the spots, giving them a striped appearance. These are absent or very faint in lantana. A smaller pyralid moth (Anania funebris) is superficially very similar, down to the yellow tegulae, but is much smaller (1.8-2.2 cm wingspan) and less robust.
Scientific NameAlypia langtoniCommon Name
Langton's or Six-spotted Forester
Habitat
Widespread in Alberta, found throughout the wooded areas except in the grasslands region.
Identification
A medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) jet-black moth with 2 large pale yellow or cream spots on each forewing and one (female) or two (males) large cream or white spots on the hindwings. The tegulae (scale patch on…
A medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) jet-black moth with 2 large pale yellow or cream spots on each forewing and one (female) or two (males) large cream or white spots on the hindwings. The tegulae (scale patch on "shoulders") are pale yellow, and the legs have orange tufts. Other Alberta Foresters have prominent black linings along the veins across the spots, giving them a striped appearance. These are absent or very faint in lantana. A smaller pyralid moth (Anania funebris) is superficially very similar, down to the yellow tegulae, but is much smaller (1.8-2.2 cm wingspan) and less robust.
Life History
There is a single brood in Alberta, with adults from early May through early July. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers for nectar. The larvae feed on fireweed (Epilobium sp.) The colorful caterpillars (orange…
There is a single brood in Alberta, with adults from early May through early July. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers for nectar. The larvae feed on fireweed (Epilobium sp.) The colorful caterpillars (orange speckled with black and with sparse long setae) are illustrated in color on several sites on the web.
Range
Newfoundland to AK, south to ME and WI in the east, south in the west to at least CO and CA.
Notes
This pretty little moth tends to be rather rare, and I have yet to see a live one.
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Citation
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Page Citation for Alypia langtoni
Page Citation
"Species Details - Alypia langtoni, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6394. Accessed 04 Oct. 2024.
References
AuthorCovell, C. V., Jr.
TitleA field guide to the moths of eastern North America.
Publication Date1984
Pages496
AuthorBowman, K.
TitleAn annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta.
Publication Date1951
Series TitleCanadian Journal of Zoology
Volume29
Pages121-165
Specimen Information
There are 36 specimens of this Species.
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36 results plotted on map in 15 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.