Diachrysia aeroides

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

Common NameDark-spotted Looper Moth SeasonalityAdults are on the wing in Alberta in July and August. IdentificationA medium-size (3.1-3.3 cm wingspan) dull orange-brown moth. The forewings, which are pointed, are crossed by several thin brown oblique and nearly straight lines. There is a faint pinkish iridescence band just outside the postmedian line. The reniform and orbicular are also outlined in a thin brown line, and usually filled with slightly darker scales. The hindwings are darker grey brown, unmarked, and with a pale yellow-brown fringe. The antennae are simple and sexes are similar. In the similar Pseudeva purpurigera, the postmedian line turns abruptly toward the costa near the apex, but in aeroides, the postmedian line runs almost straight to the costa.

Scientific Name Diachrysia aeroides Common Name Dark-spotted Looper Moth Habitat Woodland edges and clearings, meadows, etc. Seasonality Adults are on the wing in Alberta in July and August. Identification

A medium-size (3.1-3.3 cm wingspan) dull orange-brown moth. The forewings, which are pointed, are crossed by several thin brown oblique and nearly straight lines. There is a faint pinkish iridescence band just outside the postmedian line. The reniform and orbicular are also outlined in a thin brown line, and usually filled with slightly darker scales. The hindwings are darker grey brown, unmarked, and with a pale yellow-brown fringe. The antennae are simple and sexes are similar. In the similar Pseudeva purpurigera, the postmedian line turns abruptly toward the costa near the apex, but in aeroides, the postmedian line runs almost straight to the costa.

Life History Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single brood per year. Conservation A fairly common, widespread species; no concerns. Diet Info No Alberta data; elsewhere a variety of woody and herbaceous plants in the families Asteraceae, Laminacea and Rosaceae. Possibly a general feeder on herbaceous plants. Range

Across southern Canada from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, south to California, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Kentucky and North Carolina. In Alberta, it is found from the wooded valleys of the grasslands region, across the Parklands and the lower foothills and the Cypress Hills, north into the southern Boreal Forest to at least the Ft. Assiniboine and Lac la Biche areas.

Page Citation

"Diachrysia aeroides, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-899. Accessed 29 Nov. 2021.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Subfamily Plusiinae Genus Diachrysia Species Diachrysia aeroides

This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
  - Subphylum Chelicerata
    - Class Arachnida
  - Class Hexapoda
    - Subclass Insecta

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Species Details