Euclidia cuspidea Hübner
93-0929
Toothed Somberwing Moth
View Photographic Plate
ME : Penobscot Co.
Chester, 191 ft
45.4, -68.5
May 29, 1987, LG Crabo.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
-
/media/moths_z/Euclidia cuspidea-A-D -
/media/moths_z/Euclidia cuspidea-A-V
Similar Species
Euclidia ardita "species-data"
species-data
Data Filters
Date Range
Elevation (ft)
Identification
Adults
Euclidia cuspidea is a day-flying eastern species that barely enters British Columbia. It is medium-sized (FW length 15–18 mm) with triangular forewings. The ground color is mottled brown with a lighter violet tint at the outer margin and near the antemedial line. The dominant marks are dark brown: the antemedial line and an adjacent dot at the posterior margin, an equilateral triangle distal to the reniform spot, and an angular mark at the inner subterminal line near the apex. The other lines and spots are inconspicuous. The hindwings are coppery, with dark brown suffusion medial to the postmedial line and a submarginal line.
This species is very closely similar to Euclidia ardita, a more common and widespread species in our area. These species can be told apart by the shape of the lateral contour of the dark brown area bordered by the antemedial line. This is evenly outwardly convex in E. cuspidea while the mid-portion is straight to slightly concave in E. ardita. Euclidia cuspidea tends to be larger and is lighter colored than E. ardita.
Habitat
This species is common in moist forest and meadow habitats of eastern North America, and may extend westward across Canada to the Rocky Mountains.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
This species enters our area in northeastern British Columbia where it is at the very western edge of its range. It has been found most commonly in the Peace River region.
Global
Euclidia cuspidea is an eastern and central North American moth. Franclemont (1957) gives the range as Utah, Montana, and Alberta to southern Quebec, northern Florida, and southern Mississippi. A disjunct populations also occurs in the White Mountains of Arizona.
Life History
Larvae
This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on various herbaceous legumes (Fabaceae).
Adults
Euclidia cuspidea is a spring-flying diurnal moth. It has been collected during late May to mid-June in our area.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Covell (1984)
Franclemont (1957)
