Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Homoglaea californica is a mousy gray-brown moth (FW length 15–16 mm) that flies in late fall and early spring in the vicinity of cottonwoods. Its forewing is short and stout and has a pattern of light spots and lines. It is nearly uniform dull dark gray-brown in most Pacific Northwest populations, although a variety of lighter forms are known from further south in California. Some of these have gray suffusion on the outer wing, darkly suffused transverse lines with pale filling, and pale veins across the median area. The lines are dark brown with light brown filling, most evident as the filling against the dark background. The antemedial line is moderately zigzagged, angled toward the outer margin from the costa with a bulge toward the outer margin below 1A+2A. The median line is dark brown, diffuse and usually entirely evident. The postmedial line is slightly scalloped, drawn sharply toward the base on the costa, oriented transverse to the axis of the wing from below the cost to M3, and then angled toward the base to the posterior margin. The subterminal line is light, similar to the filling of the other lines, and slightly irregular. It is preceded by a slightly darker brown shade, rarely ill-defined black spots. The terminal line is dark brown, rarely larger black spots. The fringe is concolorous. The orbicular and reniform spots are pale brown filled with the ground color. The orbicular spot is an upright oval. The reniform spot is a broad upright oval or weak hourglass-shape. No claviform spot is present. The hindwing is dark brownish gray with a very faint discal spot and a pale fringe. The head and body are dark gray-brown. The male antenna is broadly bipectinate.

This species can be recognized by its short brown wings with light lines and spots and late fall and early spring flight period. The most similar species is Homoglaea hircina, a predominantly eastern moth that enters our area in central British Columbia and has a similar flight period. Its antemedial line is smooth arched and incurved near the posterior margin, not irregular with a lateral bulge above  the margin as in H. californica. Its male antenna is also narrower than that of H. californica.

Habitat

This species is endemic to the West Coast.  It is restricted to cottonwood forests in the riparian zone along creeks and rivers at low elevations both west and east of the Cascades.  It may be locally common in the proper habitat.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Homoglaea californica is found in the western part of our region as far north as extreme southern British Columbia. The range extends east of the Cascades in southern Washington, northeastern Oregon, the Idaho Panhandle, and southeastern British Columbia.

Global

The range of this moth is restricted to California outside of the Northwest. It occurs south to near the border with Mexico.

Life History

Larvae

This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on cottonwoods (Populus spp.) in the Salicaceae.

Adults

This moth is one of the "winter moths" that emerge in late fall and overwinter as adults. It has been collected in October but is most commonly encountered in the spring from February until mid-May. It is nocturnal and comes to lights.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

Moth Photographers Group

Powell & Opler (2009)