Xestia elimata (Guenée)

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 61

28. Xestia elimata (Guenée)

( Figs. 70–71, Map 45)

Identification: Forewing length 18.0–22.0 mm. The antennae are bipectinate in the male and filiform in the female. The forewing is pale gray with a whitish cast caused by white tips on some of the scales. Orbicular spot is large, elliptical, and white. Reniform spot is kidney­shaped and mostly white and centered with some ground colored scales. A black line runs along the CuA vein connecting the orbicular and reniform spots. Claviform spot is present, white, and bordered by black except proximally. Postmedial line is prominent with faint dark scallops that are bordered with faint white scales. Hindwing is dark gray with a slight tinge of pink on the fringe along the inner margin.

Flight period: Collected in mid–October.

Collected localities: Tennessee: Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway N 4.5 mi from Hwy. 321. (3 specimens)

Elevation range: 1680 ft. (512 m)

General distribution: This species ranges from southern Maine to the panhandle of Florida, west to southern Ohio, Kentucky, southern Missouri, western Louisiana, and east Texas ( Lafontaine 1998). The collections from GSMNP are new records for the state of Tennessee .

MAP 45. Collecting localities of Xestia elimata

Larval hosts: Probably pine, but larval hosts have not been confirmed by collections

( Lafontaine 1998).