Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Spargaloma sexpunctata is a blue-gray moth marked with brown-gray shading and a series of black spots near the apex. It is small to medium-sized (FW length 13 - 14 mm) with broad, triangular forewings. Both fore- and hindwings have a slightly angled outer margin slightly posterior to the midpoint of each wing. The ground color of both wings is bluish gray. The forewing transverse lines are brown-gray. The median line is broad, nearly fused to the postmedial line. The subterminal line is preceded by a triangular brown-gray mark and three black spots near the apex. The orbicular spot is a black dot, while the reniform spot is absent or very faint. The hindwing is similar to the forewing, blue-gray with several diffuse brown-gray lines and a faint discal spot.

This species can be identified by its angular wing shape, blue-gray color, and black dots near the apex.

Habitat

This species is widely distributed across North America.  In the Pacific Northwest, it is local and sporadically distributed in moist forest habitats both east and west of the Cascades.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Spargaloma sexpunctata is found in forests throughout the Pacific Northwest. There are many records from an area encompassing northeastern Washington, southeastern British Columbia, and adjacent northern Idaho.

Global

This species is widely distributed in North America. It occurs from southern Canada to Virginia and Mississippi in the East. South of our region it has been recorded from California.

Life History

Larvae

This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on dogbane (Apocynum spp.) in the Apocynaceae.

Adults

Spargaloma sexpunctata is on the wing from late May to early August. It is nocturnal and comes to light.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

Covell (1984)

Forbes (1954)

Moth Photographers Group