Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Papestra cristifera is a moderately large (FW length 17 - 20 mm) blackish-gray moth that flies in mid- to high-elevation conifer forest during the summer. It has prominent whitish-gray markings. The forewing is slightly mottled dark gray without a brown tint, slightly lighter gray in the basal area, in the subterminal area, including a prominent pale gray to slightly blue-gray patch near the anal angle. Black veins are present in the terminal area. A horizontal black line connects the claviform spot to the postmedial line. The transverse lines are black, double-filled with gray. The basal and antemedial lines are moderately irregular, with the latter slightly slanted toward the anal angle from the costa. The median line is black, usually faint but complete. The postmedial line is black, toothed on the veins, sharply drawn toward the base on the costa, nearly straight lateral to the reniform spot, and concave toward the base in the fold with a tooth above the trailing margin on vein 1A+2A. The subterminal line is white, irregular, with a moderately-strong W-mark on veins M3 and CuA1. It is preceded by a patchy black shade, usually condensed into spots or wedges that are strongest on the mid-forewing. The terminal line is a series of black triangles. The fringe is charcoal with white transverse lines at the ends of the veins. The orbicular and reniform spots are outlined in black and both are large. The orbicular spot round to lemon-shaped, is filled with light gray and a few white scales peripherally and with a dark central black ocellus. The reniform spot is strongly kidney- or sideways heart-shaped, filled with pale gray to nearly white scales peripherally and a slightly darker gray crescent centrally. The claviform spot is black, short and broad and is filled with gray slightly darker than the pale filling of the orbicular spot. The hindwing is gray with a darker margin, veins, and discal spot. The hindwing fringe is pale gray with a medium gray base. The head and thorax are charcoal gray. The mid-collar has a transverse black band and the tip is pale. The eye is covered with fine hairs. The male antenna is bead-like.

This species, Papestra brenda, and Papestra invalida form a trio of very similar species. Papestra cristifera is similar in size to P. brenda but smaller than P. invalida. It can be told from both species by the paler white filling of the spots, particularly the reniform spot. The cornuti on the male vesica are long and tapering in P. cristifera and teardrop-shaped in P. invalida. Biologically, P. cristifera and P. brenda fly in wet conifer forests, usually at high elevations, while P. invalida prefers dry forests at lower elevations. Papestra cristifera could potentially be confused with two other species in the tribe Hadenini, Melanchra adjuncta and Spiramater lutra. The former species is black and white, but differs from Papestra species by the almost lace-like pattern of white on the terminal forewing. Spiramater lutra has warm red-brown and yellow colors on the forewing that are completely absent in Papestra.

Habitat

This species is widely distributed across Canada in boreal spruce-fir forests, extending southward throughout the Rocky Mountains and Cascades at higher elevations.  In the Pacific Northwest, it is a common species in mixed hardwood-conifer forests at middle elevations and spruce-fir forests at high elevations in both the Cascades and the Rocky Mountain region.  However, it is relatively rare and sporadic in coastal rainforests west of the Cascades, and in ponderosa pine forests east of the Cascades.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Papestra cristifera is found in conifer forests throughout most of the Pacific Northwest as far north as southern British Columbia. It has been most commonly collected in the Cascade Mountains, but also occurs in forests across southern British Columbia and adjacent Washington and Idaho, in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, and in the Oregon Coast Range.

Global

The range of this species includes much of boreal North America. It is found across the Continent to the island of Newfoundland. The range extends south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. 

Life History

Larvae

This species feeds mostly on hardwoods including alders (Alnus spp.) in the Betulaceae, willows (Salix spp.) in the Salicaceae, and perhaps huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) in the Ericaceae.  It may also feed on some herbaceous vegetation.

Adults

The flight period of P. cristifera is summer, usually relatively early in the season. Collection records for our region span early May to early August. It is nocturnal and comes to lights. 

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

McCabe (1980)

Moth Photographers Group