Lasionycta fergusoni Crabo & Lafontaine, 2009
93-2974
WA : Pend Oreille Co.
Monumental Mt., 4617 ft
48.7, -117.2
June 23, 2004, L. & E. Crabo.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
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Similar Species
Eremobina claudens "species-data"
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Elevation (ft)
Identification
Adults
Lasionycta fergusoni is a medium-sized (FW length 14 - 18 mm), gray to blue-gray noctuid moth that flies in high elevation conifer forests as far south as northern Idaho and Washington. Its forewing has black antemedial and postmedial lines and large spots. The forewing is nearly even, hoary gray due to a mixture of black and gray scales, slightly darker in the median area. The distal wing is evenly colored beyond the postmedial line, occasionally with darker terminal area. The antmedial and postmedial lines are thick and dark gray to black, bordered with slightly lighter gray away from the median area. The antemedial line is smooth, and the postmedial line is weakly scalloped and S-shaped, laterally convex around the reniform spot and concave toward the wing base below this spot. The median line is only evident at the costa and in the cell. The subterminal line is usually absent. The orbicular and reniform spots are black and filled with uniform gray, slightly lighter than the ground color. The fringe is checkered with light and dark gray. The orbicular spot is oval, usually incomplete toward the wing base. The reniform spot is fairly large and kidney to heart-shaped. The claviform spot is long, spanning the median area to the postmedial line. The hindwing is dark gray with barely evident discal spot and postmedial line and a two-toned gray fringe. The head and thorax are hoary dark gray with a black line across the distal collar and a dark spot posterior to the collar. The male antenna is bipectinate with T-shaped individual segments.
This species can usually be identified by its dark, gray color and pattern dominated by the dark antemedial and postmedial lines and the claviform spot. The gray color and large claviform spot are also features of Eremobina claudens, a member of the tribe Xylenini. This species has a black basal dash and more evident subterminal line than L. fergusoni.
Habitat
This species is widely distributed at high elevations in subalpine spruce-fir forests of the northern Cascades and Rocky Mountains.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Lasionycta fergusoni is found at middle to high elevations in southern and eastern British Columbia, northern Idaho, and northern Washington.
The similar species Lasionycta conjugata flies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Utah. It might occur in southeastern Idaho. Lasionycta conjugata is lighter gray than L. fergusoni and the forewing has a more discreet black bar between the claviform spot and the postmedial line than is present in L. fergusoni.
Global
Lasionycta fergusoni is found in the Rocky Mountains of western Alberta and in southern Yukon Territory outside of the Pacific Northwest.
Life History
Larvae
No information is presently available regarding larval foodplants of this species.
Adults
The adults are on the wing during the summer, with Pacific Northwest records from late June to early August. It is nocturnal and comes to lights.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Crabo & Lafontaine (2009)
