Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Drasteria hudsonica is a common northerly Drasteria with gray forewings and pale yellow and black hindwings. It is a small to medium-sized moth (FW length 14–17 mm). The forewings are mottled gray, whitish gray between and antemedial and median lines and between the reniform spot and adjacent postmedial line, and slightly lighter than the ground distal to the subterminal line. As in other members of the tribe Melipotini the reniform is focally laterally expanded near the reniform spot and has a mildy scalloped outer margin. The hindwing is light yellow patterned typical for the genus with black fused angular discal spot, postmedial band, and marginal band on a light yellow. The head and thorax are gray. The antennae are ciliate in males and simple in females.

Drasteria hudsonica is unlikely to be confused with any other Drasteria in its range. The common species Drasteria adumbrata flies with it and is similar in size, but its forewing is brown and its hindwing is bright orange unlike those of D. hudsonica. Drasteria maculosa, a rare species from deserts in southern Oregon and Idaho, is the most similar Drasteria to D. hudsonica but is unlikely to be mistaken for it because of their different habitats and ranges. It has a streakier forewing than D. hudsonica and lacks the red-brown median line that is present in most D. hudsonica.

Habitat

This species is common and widely distributed across Canada, extending southward through the Rocky Mountains to the Blue Mountains.  It occurs in mixed hardwood-conifer forests at middle to high elevations, but extends to lower elevations along riparian zones of the Rocky Mountains.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Drasteria hudsonica occurs in forests in the northern part of our region as far south as northern Washington and Idaho. Washington records extend as far west as the eastern part of Whatcom County. It is found throughout British Columbia.

Global

Drasteria hudsonica is a western species known from as far east as South Dakota and Nebraska. It is found as far north as Yukon Territory.

Life History

Larvae

This species appears to be a foodplant specialist feeding on buffalo-berry (Shepherdia spp.) in the Elaeagnaceae.

Adults

Drasteria hudsonica appears to be single brooded with a flight in summer. Pacific Northwest records are from early May to early August. This species is both diurnal and nocturnal. Adults are commonly on the wing during the day.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

Forbes (1954)

Moth Photographers Group