Autographa sansoni

Autographa sansoni (commonly known by the name Alberta beauty) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.[1][2] It is found in the western mountains of North America, from Alaska south to Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. Occurring mainly in the Pacific Northwest, it thrives in mid-to-high elevation conifer forest habitat, as well as some areas of coastal rain forest in the Coast range.[3] However, it is also found in a non-contiguous range in sub-alpine forest in the Rocky Mountains, ranging from the state of Alberta in the north, to New Mexico in the south.[3] The wingspan of an adult ranges between 34 and 36 mm. It is widespread, and a relatively common species.

Autographa sansoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Autographa
Species:
A. sansoni
Binomial name
Autographa sansoni
Dod, 1910

Behaviour

Adults are on the wing from June to July, depending on the location.[1] Adult females of the species lay a single brood of eggs each year. The moth is nocturnal, and will be attracted to lights.[1] The plants upon which the moths' larvae feed are currently unknown.[3]

Description

The two forewings are a dark shade of brown, whilst both hindwings are a much lighter shade of yellow, tipped with a wide marginal band of a darker yellow/brown shade.[3] The forewing culminates in a rounded point, while the hindwing is more curved.[3] There is also a curved white mark, curving from the anterior edge towards the outer edge.[3] The species is identifiable through these characteristics, as well as the possession of a curved stigma. While the species shows some sexual dimorphism, the sexes are still hard to distinguish.[1] The antenna of the male is filiform.[3] The thorax is a darker shade than the abdomen, although both shades are intermediary to those of the wings.[3]

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References
  1. Anweiler, G. G; Robinson, E. "Species Page – Autographa sansoni". E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  2. Noctuoidea : Noctuidae (part) : Plusiinae, The Moths of America north of Mexico, including Greenland. Lafontaine, J. Donald and Robert W. Poole, 1995, Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, ISBN 0933003064
  3. Dod (1910). "Autographa sansoni Dod, 1910". Pacific Northwest Moths. pp. 93–1207. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
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