Leptarctia californiae

Leptarctia californiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Clade:Euarthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Superfamily:Noctuoidea
Family:Erebidae
Genus:Leptarctia
Species: L. californiae
Binomial name
Leptarctia californiae
(Walker, 1855)
Synonyms
  • Nemeophila californiae Walker, 1855
  • Lithosia lena Boisduval, 1869
  • Lithosia adnata Boisduval, 1869
  • Leptarctia fulvofasciata Butler, 1881
  • Leptarctia wrightii French, 1889
  • Lithosia decia Boisduval, 1869
  • Leptarctia boisduvalii Butler, 1881
  • Leptarctia latifasciata Butler, 1881
  • Leptarctia albifascia French, 1889
  • Leptarctia occidentalis French, 1889
  • Leptarctia dimidiata Stretch, 1872
  • Leptarctia stretchii Butler, 1881

Leptarctia californiae is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in western North America, from New Mexico and Colorado to California and north to British Columbia.[1] The habitat consists of open forests, meadows and clearings in the mountains.

The length of the forewings is 12–17 mm. The forewings are dark grey with darker grey transverse lines and variable amounts of lighter cream patches. The hindwings are variable, but usually bright orange. Other variants range from nearly white to deep red or entirely black. Adults are on wing in spring with most records from March to July.

The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants.[2]

Forms

There are two described forms:

  • Leptarctia californiae f. decia Boisduval, 1869
  • Leptarctia californiae f. dimidiata Stretch, 1872

References

  • Pitkin, Brian & Jenkins, Paul. "Search results Family: Arctiidae". Butterflies and Moths of the World. Natural History Museum, London.


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