Leptarctia

Leptarctia is a monotypic tiger moth genus in the family Erebidae described by Stretch in 1872. Its only species, Leptarctia californiae, was described by Francis Walker in 1855.[1] It is found in western North America, from New Mexico and Colorado to California and north to British Columbia.[2] The habitat consists of open forests, meadows and clearings in the mountains.

Leptarctia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Leptarctia
Stretch, 1872
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

The length of the forewings is 12–17 mm. The forewings are dark gray with darker gray 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.[3]

Forms

There are two described forms:

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

Former species

References
  1. Savela, Markku. "Leptarctia Stretch, 1872". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  2. McLeod, Robin (May 4, 2019). "Species Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126". BugGuide. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  3. "Leptarctia californiae (Walker, 1855)". Pacific Northwest Moths. Retrieved September 27, 2019.


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