Spiramater lutra (Guenée) Otter Spirameter

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 31

23. Spiramater lutra (Guenée) Otter Spirameter

( Figs. 42–43 , Map 24)

Identification: Forewing length 16–20 mm. Male and female antennae are filiform. Forewing ground color is dark gray with a large ferruginous patch between basal and antemedial lines below the Cu vein. There are a variable amount of ferruginous scales between the veins proximal to the white subterminal line. Orbicular and reniform spots are white with dark gray centers and outlined in black with the reniform being more distinct than the orbicular spot. Claviform spot is ground color outlined in black directly below the orbicular spot. There is a variably distinct patch of white and ferruginous scales along the posterior margin, below and slightly distal to the reniform spot. Hindwing is dirty white heavily suffused with gray and darker toward outer margin. A faint discal spot is present. Abdomen with a series of dorsal scale tufts.

Flight period: Late May to early June.

Collected localities: Tennessee: Blount Co., 0.1 mi W of Gregory Bald; Parsons Bald. (3 specimens)

Elevation range: 4732–4929 ft. (1442–1502m)

General distribution: Across Canada from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to British Columbia. In the eastern U.S. from Maine south to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in the Midwest from Michigan, Indiana, North Dakota , and South Dakota, west to Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California.

Larval hosts: A polyphagous species especially on forest trees, including both coniferous and deciduous, and shrubs. The following hosts are arranged in order of preference based on the number of specimens collected from each host: Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco , Pinaceae ), red alder ( Alnus rubra Bong. , Betulaceae ), buffaloberry ( Shepherdia sp. , Elaeagnaceae ), willow ( Salix sp. , Salicaceae ), western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. , Pinaceae ), western red cedar ( Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don , Cupressaceae ), water birch ( Betula occidentalis Hook. , Betulaceae ), arbutus ( Epigaea sp. , Ericaceae ), maple ( Acer sp. , Aceraceae ), tamarack ( Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch , Pinaceae ), European white birch ( Betula pendula Roth , Betulaceae ), speckled alder ( Alnus incana (L.) Moench, Betulaceae ), Oregon white oak ( Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hook. , Fagaceae ), grand fir ( Abies grandis (Douglas ex D. Don) Lindl. , Pinaceae ), Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière , Pinaceae ), white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss , Pinaceae ), lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden , Pinaceae ), chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana L., Rosaceae ), hazel ( Corylopsis sp. , Hamamelidaceae ), quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx. , Salicaceae ), Pacific silver fir ( Abies amabilis (Douglas ex Louden) Douglas ex Forbes , Pinaceae ), dwarf birch ( Betula nana L., Betulaceae ), bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum Pursh , Aceraceae ), white poplar ( Populus alba L., Salicaceae ), and gooseberry ( Ribes sp. , Grossulariaceae ) ( Prentice 1962). Other hosts include vine maple ( Acer circinatum Pursh , Aceraceae ), rose spirea ( Spiraea douglasii Hook. , Rosaceae ), corn ( Zea mays L., Poaceae ), and plantain ( Plantago sp. L., Plantaginaceae ) ( Crumb 1956); gray dogwood ( Cornus racemosa Lam. , Cornaceae ) ( Godfrey 1972).

MAP 24. Collecting localities of Spiramater lutra .

Figures

FIGURES 41–48. Adults. 41, Sideridis congermana, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Keijimukujik, 18 June 1957, D.C. Ferguson; 42, Spiramater lutra, m, Tennessee, Blount Co., 0.1 mi W of Gregory Bald, 4929 ft., 27 May 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155153; 43, Spiramater lutra, m, Tennessee, Blount Co., Parsons Bald, 9 June 2002, L. & B. Merrit & M. Meyers, USNMENT 00153969; 44, Trichordestra legitima, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, NE of house, field, 4925 ft., 2 Aug. 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00218875; 45, Leucania adjuta, m, North Carolina, Swain Co., 8.3 mi NW GSMNP ent. on 441, Kephart Prong Trail, 2825 ft., 12 Oct. 2003, M.G. Pogue, USN- MENT 00219269; 46, Leucania adjuta, f, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, NE of house, field, 4925 ft., 31 July 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00156845; 47, Leucania inermis, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Acaciaville, 29 June 1951, D.C. Ferguson; 48, Leucania inermis, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Kejimukujik, 12 June 1958, D.C. Ferguson.