Leucania phragmatidicola Guenée Phragmites Wainscot, 1852

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 36

29. Leucania phragmatidicola Guenée Phragmites Wainscot

( Figs. 53–54 , Map 30)

Identification: Forewing length 14–18 mm. Overall appearance of the forewing is tan with a dark brown shading along Cu vein to end of discal cell then continuing above vein M2 to outer margin. There is a tiny black dot at end of discal cell above vein Cu. Postmedial line consists of a series of 4–7 tiny black dots from costa to posterior margin. In some specimens these dots can consist of only a few scales or be absent. Terminal line consists of a series of minute black dots. Hindwing is white with pale gray shading from apex to no further than middle of posterior margin.

This species closely resembles L. multilinea but the forewing horizontal stripe is less defined and not as wide. The postmedial line consists of more tiny black dots in L. phragmatidicola than in L. multilinea . The hindwing is white in both L. phragmatidicola and L. multilinea , but in L. multilinea there are small black dots between the veins along the posterior margin and in L. phragmatidicola the dots are absent with very faint gray shading, especially at the apex. In some specimens this shading can be virtually absent.

Flight period: June to September, two broods annually.

MAP 30. Collecting localities of Leucania phragmatidicola .

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob NW of house, Purchase Knob on road in meadow. (12 specimens) Elevation range: 4800–4924 ft. (1463–1501 m) General distribution: This is a widespread eastern species found from Newfoundland to Manitoba in Canada. In the U.S., it ranges from Maine to South Carolina, throughout the Midwest to Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico. Larval hosts: Similar to that of L. multilinea , including bluegrass ( Poa sp. , Poaceae ), Virginia wild rye ( Elymus virginicus L., Poaceae ), quackgrass ( Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Poaceae ), and larvae obtained from eggs were reared from brome ( Bromus sp. , Poaceae ) and orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L., Poaceae ) ( Godfrey 1972).

Figures

FIGURES 49–56. Adults. 49, Leucania inermis, f, North Carolina, Avery Co., Grandfather Mtn., 5280 ft., 14 July 1974, D.C. Ferguson; 50, Leucania linda, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 16 June 1975, D.C. Ferguson; 51, Leucania linda, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 9 June 1974, D.C. Ferguson; 52, Leucania multilinea, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Victoria Co., Kelley Mtn. near Englishtown, 28 July 1970, D.C. Ferguson; 53, Leucania phragmatidicola, f, Oklahoma, Cimarron Co., Black Mesa State Park, E end of primative area, 4312 ft., 24 Aug. 2004, M.G. Pogue; 54, Leucania phragmatidicola, f, Connecticut, New Haven Co., Hamden, 6 June 1966, D.C. Ferguson; 55, Leucania pseudargyria, m, New York, 3 July 1900; 56, Leucania scirpicola, f, Florida, Highlands Co., Lake Placid, Archbold Biological Station, 19 Feb. 1985, D.C. Ferguson.