Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Anicla exuberans is a dull, medium-sized (FW length 17–19 mm) dusty gray moth that occurs in southern British Columbia and southern Idaho in the Pacific Northwest. It has a thick, black band across the base of the collar. The forewing is dull, medium gray with a uniform sprinkling of darker scales producing the dusty or dirty appearance. The costa has a slight blue tint and the remainder is brownish. The transverse lines are gray, but absent except at the costa in most specimens and barely evident in some. The pale, irregular subterminal line is preceded by a darker gray shade, especially near the apex, and this dark area extends to the forewing margin in some specimens. The reniform spot is medium gray, often incomplete and ill-defined, and is variably filled with dark gray. The other spots are absent. The hindwing is light gray with a slight pearly sheen, a light gray marginal band, and dark veins but no discal spot. The head and most of the thorax is similar blue gray to the costal forewing. The base of the collar is a uniform thickness black band that contrasts sharply with the lighter head and remainder of the collar. The male antenna is filiform.

This species can be identified by the combination of the thick, black band at the base of the collar and the dusty gray forewing. It is most similar to Euxoa bochus, a widespread species in our region, which has a speckled gray forewing and thick, black, collar. This species has a brown anterior forewing that A. exuberans lacks. Richia parentalis, a rare species that barely enters the eastern portion of our region, has dull gray forewing similar to that of A. exuberans, but it lacks the black band across the collar and the forewing lines are more evident.

Habitat

This species is widely distributed in open grasslands and open ponderosa pine forests.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Anicla exuberans is found in dry forests in southern British Columbia as well as in extreme southeastern Idaho. It is also recorded from western Montana in Lafontaine (2004). It has not been found in Oregon or Washington.

Global

This species is found from the Pacific Northwest and southern Alberta through the Rocky Mountains and adjacent Intermountain region to central Mexico. The western limit of the range in the Southwest is eastern Nevada.

Life History

Larvae

No information is presently available regarding larval foodplants of this species, but it probably feeds on grasses (Poaceae) like closely related species.

Adults

Adults are on the wing from mid-June to mid-August across the range of the species. The limited Pacific Northwest records are from July.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

Lafontaine (2004)

Moth Photographers Group