Dolocucullia dentilinea (Smith, 1899)
93-1540
ID : Franklin Co.
Willow Flat CG, 6102 ft
42.1, -111.6
July 12, 2012, L Crabo & G Morrell.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
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Similar Species
Cucullia florea 
Cucullia intermedia 
Dolocucullia poolei Data Filters
Date Range
Elevation (ft)
Identification
Adults
Dolocucullia dentilinea is a medium-sized gray moth (FW length 16–17 mm) with long pointed forewings from mountain forests in east-central Oregon and Idaho during summer. The forewing is less pointed than in genus Cucullia, appearing longitudinally streaked due zigzag transverse lines and lack of much other pattern. The ground color is light to medium gray and the transverse lines and dark gray or black. The basal line is limited to the costa. The antemedial line is darkest on the costa, zigzag below the cubital vein to approach an opposing point of the postmedial line in the fold. The median line is a dark mark on the costa. The postmedial line is scalloped, excurved around the cell and then oblique to the mid-trailing margin. The terminal line is a series of black spots between the veins. The fringe is the ground color. The spots are absent except for a dark smudged mark at the reniform spot in some specimens. The hindwing is whitish with a gray marginal band and gray veins. The hindwing fringe is light gray with a whitish edge. The head and thorax are the ground color with a V-shaped mark on the median collar at the base of midline hump. The male antenna is filiform.
This moth is closely similar to Dolocucullia poolei but can be identified by locality since D. poolei is limited to the part of the Pacific Northwest to the west of the Cascade crest. Dolocucullia poolei is darker with less distinct markings than those of D. dentilinea. Points of its antemedial and postmedial lines touch in the fold, and it has a dark spot near the anal angle that D. dentilinea lacks.
This species can usually be recognized by its gray color, zigzag lines, and lack of most other markings. It could potentially be confused with Cucullia species, especially C. intermedia. Cucullia species lack an antemedial line, unlike Dolocucullia.
Habitat
In the Pacific Northwest this species is found in forests at mid elevations.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Dolocucullia dentilinea occurs in the interior of the Pacific Northwest and has been collected in the Blue Mountains in Oregon as well as in eastern Idaho.
Global
Dolocucullia dentilinea is a species of the Rocky Mountain region south of southern Idaho. Its range extends into Mexico at least as far south as Mexico City.
Life History
Larvae
No information is presently available regarding larval foodplants of this species, but it probably feeds on herbaceous Asteraceae such as goldenrods (Solidago spp.).
Adults
The flight period of this species is late June through August in the Pacific Northwest. It is nocturnal and comes to lights.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Poole (1995)
Crabo LG, Hammond PC, Mustelin T, Wikle DL (2018) Six new species and one new subspecies of noctuid moths from western United States of America and Mexico (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). ZooKeys 788: 201–239.
