Behrensia conchiformis Grote, 1875
93-1775
WA : Skagit Co.
Anacortes, Washington Park, 5 ft
48.5, -122.7
April 07, 1996, L. G. Crabo.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
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Identification
Adults
Behrensia conchiformis is a distinctive, gray and white small moth (FW length 12–14 mm) that flies in forests throughout the Northwest during the spring. It has metallic green scales on the forewing. The wing has a slightly pointed apex and smoothly convex outer margin. The ground color is mottled gray with scattered metallic emerald green scales. A few dark yellow spots are present on the base and in the subterminal area in some individuals. The median area is mostly darker blackish gray except for a white patch near the lower orbicular and reniform spots. The basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines are dark gray, filled with gray with scattered green scales to completely filled with metallic green. The antemedial line is very irregular, with a strongly concave medial segment in the fold. The postmedial line is finely undulating, square across the wing near the reniform spot, and perpendicular to the wing below the spot. The subterminal line is pale, finely irregular, and preceded by a slightly darker gray shade. The terminal line is gray and is sometimes a row of metallic green spots rather than a line. The fringe is dark gray. The orbicular spot is moderately large, round, gray in outline and filled with white and a gray central ocellus. The reniform spot is widely oval, dark gray, and very inconspicuous due to filling of the adjacent dark gray median area. The hindwing is white with a dirty look due to strong suffusion of gray scales. The veins, discal spot, and wide marginal band are dark gray. The hindwing fringe is white with a wide gray base on most of the wing and white at the anal angle. The head is white with several tufts of scales and gray tufts at the bases of the antennae. The collar is uniform gray-brown. The rest of the thorax is hoary dark gray with dark edges on the tegulae. Dorsal tufts are present on several of the abdominal segments. The male antenna is filiform.
This species can be recognized by its distinctive metallic green scales. It is unlikely to be confused with any other species in our area.
Habitat
This species is common and widely distributed in moist forest habitats and riparian zones along creeks throughout the Pacific Northwest, including coastal rainforests and mixed hardwood forests at low elevations west of the Cascades, and mixed hardwood-conifer forests at higher elevations in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Behrensia conchiformis is found in forests throughout the Northwest as far north as Armstrong in south-central British Columbia. It occurs in the Idaho Panhandle, but has not been collected further south in the state. It is absent from dry steppe and very high elevations.
Global
This species is found on the West Coast of North America from southern British Columbia to Baja California.
Life History
Larvae
This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.) in the Caprifoliaceae.
Adults
Behrensia conchiformis flies during the spring, with records from early March to mid-June in our region. It is nocturnal and comes to lights.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Powell & Opler (2009)
