Pacific Northwest Moths

Identification

Adults

Xylena curvimacula is a large moth (FW length 19–23 mm) that flies in forests during late fall and early spring. It has a long, ochre-yellow and gray-brown forewing marked with a black orbicular spot and C-shaped ochre and chestnut-brown reniform spot. The forewing is relatively long and has a scalloped outer margin. The ground color of Northwest populations is dark brown-gray, rarely chestnut brown, darkest on the costa from the base to the subterminal line. A pale streak, whitish at the base and ochre elsewhere, extends through the cell from the base to the outer margin where it is broadest. The terminal area posterior to vein M3 is a mixture of gray, brown, and ochre scales, often with dark veins. A black basal dash is present and there is a black spot near the base of the cubital vein. The antemedial line is comprised of several brown to gray components that are strongly looped, visible on the costa and in the cell and obscured on the posterior wing. A weak medial line is visible on the posterior wing. The postmedial line is a series of spots on the veins. The subterminal line is pale, diffuse and difficult to define, parallel to the outer margin. It is preceded by a long black wedge or spike between M2 and M3 at the transition from yellow to brown color and a fainter and more diffuse dark shade. The fringe is gray-brown, often checkered with tan or ochre. The orbicular spot is ovoid with parallel medial and lateral sides, black, double with very thick lower portion, filled with ochre anteriorly and darkening to black posteriorly. The reniform spot is boomerang-shaped with open anterior and posterior ends, double black medially, ochre centrally, and chestnut-brown laterally. No claviform spot is present. The hindwing is dark brownish gray with barely darker gray discal spot, veins, diffuse postmedial line, and thin dark terminal line. The hindwing fringe is off-white, often with a pink tint. The face is dark brown and the head and collar are ochre-brown. The tip of the collar is light red-brown. The rest of the thorax is red-brown.

This moth can be identified by its late fall or early spring flight season, ochre and gray-brown forewing with complex pattern of looped lines, long black basal dash, black orbicular spot, and curved reniform spot. It has the most yellow on the forewing of our Xylena species. The most similar species is Xylena nupera, a slightly larger moth with brown and tan wings with a similar basal dash. It has additional dashes in the fold in the median area and from the lower reniform spot to the subterminal line that are lacking in X. curvimacula. The pale yellow area distal to the reniform spot is extensive in X. curvimacula and reaches the costal margin unlike as in X. cineritia.

This moth is geographically variable in North America. Populations in eastern North America have more red-brown in the dark areas of the forewing and those from the West are darker and grayer.

Habitat

This species is common and widely distributed throughout much of North America in moist forest and riparian habitats.  In the Pacific Northwest, it is most common at low elevations west of the Cascades in mixed hardwood forests and along creeks and rivers.  It also occurs in mixed hardwood-conifer forests at middle elevations in the Cascades and Rocky Mountain regions, particularly near water.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Xylena curvimacula is found in boreal forests of central and southern British Columbia, northern Washington, and the Idaho Panhandle. It also occurs in the Blue Mountains of southwestern Washington. The range extends south along the West Coast from Vancouver Island and the northern Cascades to southwestern Oregon.

Global

This species has a transcontinental distribution in North America. It occurs in southern Canada, the Great Lakes region, and New England in the East, extending south to West Virginia. It is found across the Prairie Provinces of central Canada to the east of the Northwest region, and in northern California to the immediate south.

Life History

Larvae

This species is a generalist feeding on many kinds of hardwoods, but shows a preference for alders (Alnus spp.) in the Betulaceae and willows (Salix spp.) in the Salicaceae.

Adults

The adults of X. curvimacula emerge during the fall and overwinter before mating in the spring. It is most commonly encountered in the spring from early March to mid-May. It is nocturnal and comes to lights.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

Covell (1984)

Moth Photographers Group