Autographa sansoni
Autographa sansoni | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
Family: | Noctuidae |
Genus: | Autographa |
Species: | A. sansoni
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Binomial name | |
Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910
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Autographa sansoni (commonly known by the name Alberta beauty) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1][2] It is found in the western mountains of North America, from Alaska south to Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. Occurring mainly in the Pacific Northwest, it thrives in mid-to-high elevation conifer forest habitat, as well as some areas of coastal rain forest in the Coast range.[3] However, it is also found in a non-contiguous range in sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains, ranging from the state of Alberta in the north, to New Mexico in the south.[3] The wingspan of an adult ranges between 34 and 36 mm. It is widespread, and a relatively common species.
Behaviour
Adults are on the wing from June to July, depending on the location.[1] Adult females of the species lay a single brood of eggs each year. The moth is nocturnal, and will be attracted to lights.[1] The plants upon which the moths' larvae feed are currently unknown.[3]
Description
The two forewings are a dark shade of brown, whilst both hindwings are a much lighter shade of yellow, tipped with a wide marginal band of a darker yellow/brown shade.[3] The forewing culminates in a rounded point, while the hindwing is more curved.[3] There is also a curved white mark, curving from the anterior edge towards the outer edge.[3] The species is identifiable through these characteristics, as well as the possession of a curved stigma. While the species shows some sexual dimorphism, the sexes are still hard to distinguish.[1] The antenna of the male is filiform.[3] The thorax is a darker shade than the abdomen, although both shades are intermediary to those of the wings.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Anweiler, G. G; Robinson, E. "Species Page – Autographa sansoni". E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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(help) - ^ Noctuoidea : Noctuidae (part) : Plusiinae, The Moths of America north of Mexico, including Greenland. Lafontaine, J. Donald and Robert W. Poole, 1995, Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, ISBN 0933003064
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dod (1910). "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Pacific Northwest Moths. pp. 93–1207. Retrieved 3 August 2012.