Gnophaela vermiculata

Gnophaela vermiculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Erebidae
Genus:	Gnophaela
Species:	G. vermiculata
Binomial name
Gnophaela vermiculata (Grote, 1864)
Synonyms
Omoiala vermiculata Grote, [1864] Gnophaela continua H. Edwards, 1881

Gnophaela vermiculata, sometimes known as the police-car moth or green lattice, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864. It is found in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and in western parts of North America, from British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico and north to Manitoba.

Caterpillar on Mertensia paniculata

It is often mistaken to be the Gnophaela Latipennis because of the similarity in their pattern. The wingspan is about 54 millimetres (2.1 in). Adults are on wing in late summer and fly during the day. There is one generation per year.

The larvae is born with yellower patches but eventually grows into the adult coloring. As larvae, they feed on Mertensia, Lithospermum and Hackelia species. Adults feed on nectar of various herbaceous flowers, including Cirsium and Solidago.

It is often mistaken to be the Gnophaela Latipennis because of the similarity in their pattern. The forewing margins are what make them distinguishable.

References

• Cotinis (June 19, 2013). "Species Gnophaela vermiculata - Police Car Moth - Hodges#8037". BugGuide. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
• Robinson, E. & Schmidt, B. C. "Species Details Gnophaela vermiculata". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
• "930356.00 – 8037 – Gnophaela vermiculata – Police Car Moth – (Grote, 1864)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved September 6, 2019.