Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Hadena ectrapela is the most common and widespread Hadena species in our region. It is a small to medium sized noctuid moth (FW length 13 - 15 mm) with medium to dark gray ground color and busy pattern of white and black lines and spots, dominated by an oval and slightly obliquely-oriented pale-filled orbicular spot and white subterminal line that forms a W-mark at the outer margin. The forewing is mottled gray or brownish gray with a light whitish patch in the central median area between the three spot. Light bluish gray is present in the subterminal area, almost always near the trailing margin and often opposite the cell. Similar blue-gray is often present in the terminal area, lightest at the apex and mid-wing at the W-mark. The wing is darkest preceding the subterminal line at the costal margin, usually condensed into a triangular black mark. A short black basal dash is present, often intermixed with broken lines of the basal line. The antemedial line is double with gray inner and black lateral components, slightly undulating with a broadly laterally convex portion from the cell to the fold. The median line is dark, usually evident except through the reniform spot. The postmedial line is double with black inner and gray outer parts and filled with light whitish gray on the posterior wing and the ground color anteriorly. The is lightly scalloped and excurved toward the margin around the reniform spot and oblique toward the base below the spot. The subterminal line is white, offset below the costa and then nearly straight except for a shallow W-mark on veins M3 and CuA1. The terminal line is a series of gray lines between the veins. The fringe is checkered white to medium gray and dark gray. The orbicular spot is thin and black in outline with a thicker inner white line and filling of light gray to ground color, moderately large and oval to slightly asymmetrically oval in shape. The reniform spot is similar but less prominent due to slightly darker filling and faint lower portion, kidney-shaped and touching the postmedial line. The claviform spot is black filled with the ground color, pointed at the apex, and variable in length from short to touching the postmedial line. The hindwing is medium-dark brownish gray with dark gray marginal band, discal spot, postmedial line, and a two-toned fringe that is gray at the base and white distally. The head and thorax are mottled gray-brown with thin transverse stripes on the collar and grizzled dark and light margins on the tegulae. The eye surface is hairy. The male antenna is biserrate.

Hadena species can be difficult to identify. This species is most likely to be confused with Hadena caelestis and Hadena capsularis, both uncommon species. The former species flies near timberline and has a large white-filled orbicular spot and more extensive white on the posterior aspect of the distal forewing than H. ectrapela. Structurally, its dorsal cucullus of the male valve is rounded, whereas that of H. ectrapela is pointed. These differences can be observed under magnification after brushing the scales from the distal abdomen. Hadena capsularis has a larger round to slightly oval orbicular spot than H. ectrapela and has a series of longitudinal black marks along the outer margin in the area where H. ectrapela has the pale W-mark. Hadena siskiyou, a darker blackish-gray species with a white orbicular spot, replaces H. ectrapela in southwestern Oregon. These species are not known to occur together.

Habitat

In the Pacific Northwest, it is most common in open ponderosa pine forests at middle elevations east of the Cascades, but also occurs in dry juniper woodlands at lower elevations.  It is also common on barren, rocky ridgetops at higher elevations in the Cascades, Rocky Mountain region, and in mountains of the Great Basin such as the Steens Mountains of southeastern Oregon.  However, it is sporadic in open habitats west of the Cascades.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Hadena ectrapela is widespread in the Pacific Northwest and occurs in a variety of montane and low-elevation habitats. It occurs in the Coast Range and Okanagan region of southern British Columbia. It is common in forested areas near the Columbia Basin in Washington, especially on dry ridges at middle to high elevations, but is uncommonly collected in low-elevation xeric steppe. It has also been found in the Idaho Panhandle and mountains of eastern Oregon, both in the Blue Mountains and Basin and Range provinces. It is mostly absent west of the Cascades but has been found in coastal northwestern Oregon.

Global

This species is widespread in western North America. Outside of the Pacific Northwest it occurs from western Alberta south in the Rocky Mountains to Wyoming and Utah. It is replaced by the similar species Hadena mccabei and Hadena plumasata in California. These species, Hadena siskiyou, and Hadena paulula from Arizona are closely related and their relationships are poorly understood at this time.

Life History

Larvae

This species has been documented by Michael Mesler to feed on several Silene species in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae) in Del Norte County, California. He reports that the larvae eat S. serpentinicola and S. laciniata (red-flowered species), but reject those of the more common and widespread S. campanulata in the laboratory. There are no other documented food plants for this moth, although other Silene species must be utilized since both of the plants eaten in California have limited ranges that are smaller than the moth's distribution.

Adults

Hadena ectrapela flies from late spring to summer depending on elevation. Records from our region span mid-May to late August, but most specimens are from early June to early August. This species is nocturnal and comes readily to light.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

Moth Photographers Group

Troubridge & Crabo (2002)