Species Details
Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameGrey Furcula
SeasonalityAdults are on the wing late May though mid-July
IdentificationA medium-size (3.3-4.5 cm wingspan) pale grey moth. The long silky hair on the body is typical of the genus. The forewings are pale pearl grey shading to white at the wing-base. The normal lines are reduced to a few dark marks, in particular at the costa, and a series of black dots on the outer margin in the spaces between the veins. There are also a few small patches of gold or orange scales along the lower forewing margin. The hindwings are white with a row of prominent back spots between the veins along the margin, and a small dark discal spot. All other Furcula species have a sharply contrasting dark median band crossing the forewings. The nominate subspecies been reported from the Llyodminster region. Subspecies wileyi occurs in the grasslands region of southern Alberta; it is larger and paler than ssp. cinerea.
Scientific Name
Furcula cinerea
Common Name
Grey Furcula
Habitat
Deciduous forest and shrub
Seasonality
Adults are on the wing late May though mid-July
Identification
A medium-size (3.3-4.5 cm wingspan) pale grey moth. The long silky hair on the body is typical of the genus. The forewings are pale pearl grey shading to white at the wing-base. The normal lines are reduced to a few…
A medium-size (3.3-4.5 cm wingspan) pale grey moth. The long silky hair on the body is typical of the genus. The forewings are pale pearl grey shading to white at the wing-base. The normal lines are reduced to a few dark marks, in particular at the costa, and a series of black dots on the outer margin in the spaces between the veins. There are also a few small patches of gold or orange scales along the lower forewing margin. The hindwings are white with a row of prominent back spots between the veins along the margin, and a small dark discal spot. All other Furcula species have a sharply contrasting dark median band crossing the forewings. The nominate subspecies been reported from the Llyodminster region. Subspecies wileyi occurs in the grasslands region of southern Alberta; it is larger and paler than ssp. cinerea.
Life History
The adults are diurnal and come to lights. Larvae are solitary defoliators. There is a single brood which overwinters as pupae.
Conservation
No concerns.
Diet Info
No Alberta data. Elsewhere larval hosts are reported to be poplar (Populus sp.) and willow (Salix).
Range
Nova Scotia west to BC. In Alberta, cinerea occurs in the wooded portions of the valleys in the grasslands region and locally in the aspen parklands.
Citation
Page Citation for Furcula cinerea
Page Citation
"Species Details - Furcula cinerea, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-701. Accessed 08 Jan. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 33 specimens of this Species.
UASM2593 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-07-08
UASM2600 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-06-12
UASM2617 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1924-07-02
UASM2619 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-06-11
UASM2624 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster
Collected ByBruggemann, Paul F.
Date Collected1948-06-06
UASM2672 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-07-05
UASM2689 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-07-05
UASM2690 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lethbridge
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1923-07-10
UASM2693 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1999-06-11
UASM2694 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1940-05-29
UASM57912 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2000-06-28/2000-06-29
UASM58030 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2004-06-03/2004-06-04
UASM57077 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-02
UASM57261 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-23
UASM57262 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-23
UASM58492 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jenner
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2005-06-14
UASM186996 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Missoula county, Missoula
Collected ByKohler
Date Collected1989-06-19
UASM186997 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Missoula county, Missoula
Collected ByKohler
Date Collected1989-07-05
UASM186998 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Missoula county, Missoula
Collected ByKohler, S.
Date Collected1989-07-05
UASM186999 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Missoula county, Missoula
Collected ByKohler
Date Collected1989-07-18
UASM187000 - Furcula cinerea
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1999-06-11