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 |
Binomial name | |
Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910 | |
Autographa sansoni, the Alberta beauty, is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1][2] The species was first described by F. H. Wolley Dod in 1910.[3] 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.[4] However, it is also found in a non-contiguous range in sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains, ranging from Alberta in the north, to New Mexico in the south.[4] 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.[4]
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.[4] The forewing culminates in a rounded point, while the hindwing is more curved.[4] There is also a curved white mark, curving from the anterior edge towards the outer edge.[4] 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.[4] The thorax is a darker shade than the abdomen, although both shades are intermediary to those of the wings.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Anweiler, G. G. & Robinson, E. "Species Details Autographa sansoni". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Savela, Markku, ed. (29 August 2020). "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Pacific Northwest Moths. p. 93-1207. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
External links
- "931207.00 – 8910 – Autographa sansoni – Dod, 1910". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved 12 November 2020.