Genus Pilocrocis (original) (raw)

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)

Family Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)

Subfamily Spilomelinae

Tribe Herpetogrammatini

Genus Pilocrocis

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

The name was first published by Julius Lederer in 1863

Explanation of Names

from Greek pilos (πιλος)- "felt" + krokis (κροκις)- "flock of wool" (translation of Lederer's explanation)

Numbers

Pilocrocis Lederer, 1863

Size

wingspan 24-29 mm (1)

Identification

Adult: forewing grayish-brown with slightly irregular white AM line and sinuous white PM line edged in black; PM line has squarish convex lobe near middle; reniform spot a small white arc, edged basally in black; hindwing grayish-brown with a single white (PM) line having squarish convex lobe near middle

Range

Ontario and New York to Florida, west to Texas, north to North Dakota

also occurs south to South America

Habitat

open woods, clearings, damp areas where foodplant grows; adults are nocturnal and come to light

Season

adults fly from August to November

Food

larvae feed on false nettle [=button-hemp] (Boehmeria spp.); also cardinal's guard (Pachystachys spicata and P. coccinea) in the far south

See Also

Diasemiodes janassialis has blackish wings with a different pattern of white lines on the hindwing

Print References

Lederer, 1863: 430 (2)

Internet References

live and pinned adult images by Hugh McGuinness and Jim Vargo respectively (Moth Photographers Group)

live adult image (Mark Dreiling, Oklahoma)

live adult image (Randy Newman, North Carolina)

pinned adult image (Matthew Barnes, Moths of Belize)

pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus date (Larry Line, Maryland)

adult image (Darryl Searcy, Alabama)

foodplants and flight season (Ohio State U.)

presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

presence in Florida; list (John Heppner, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)

presence in Texas; list (James Gillaspy, U. of Texas)

presence in North Dakota; list (Gerald Fauske, North Dakota State U.)

Wiener entomologische monatschrift, v.7, p.430 Lederer's original description of the genus (in German)

Works Cited