Ponometia candefacta (Hübner), Hubner

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Zootaxa 2499, pp. 1-20 : 4-5

1. Ponometia candefacta (Hübner) , Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth

( Figs. 3–4 , Map 2)

Identification: Forewing length 9.0–10.5 mm. Ponometia candefacta has a white forewing with a brown, fused medial and postmedial lines, and a prominent round, gray reniform spot that is outlined in white. There can be some faint yellow scales proximal to the reniform spot between the brown costal spot and brown band. The orbicular spot is a tiny black dot. The prominent reniform spot distinguishes it from P. erastrioides (Guenée) . Ponometia candefacta and P. erastrioides (Guenée) are considered to be congeneric with Ponometia Herrich-Schäffer 1868 ( Poole and Lafontaine 2010) .

MAP 2. Collecting localities of Ponometia candefacta .

Flight period: 9–10 June.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co.: Purchase Knob, NW of house; Swain Co.: Big Cove Rd., site w; 0.7 km up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek. Tennessee: Sevier Co.: Sugarlands Visitor Center. (4 specimens)

Elevation range: 1480–4911 ft. (451–1497 m)

General distribution: Widespread from coast to coast, probably found in every state.

Larval hosts: Various species of ragweed ( Ambrosia spp., Asteraceae ) ( Crumb 1956). David L. Wagner collected a larva on Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 16. Adults. 3, Ponometia candefacta, m, Oklahoma, Cimarron Co., Black Mesa State Park, east end of primitive area, nr. Lake Elling, 4281 ft., 36 o 50.783 ’ N, 102 o 52.583 ’ W, 24 Aug. 2004, M. G. Pogue; 4, Ponometia candefacta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 12 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 5, Ponometia erastrioides, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co.: Colesville, 29 Aug. 1978, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Ponometia erastrioides, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 25 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 7, Spragueia apicalis, m, Texas, Montgomery Co., Camp Strake 9 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 8, Spragueia apicalis, f, Texas, Tyler Co., Town Bluff (Dam B) 15 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 9, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Dorchester Co., Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, 7 Aug. 1999, J. Glaser; 10, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Spice Creek Marsh, 17 Aug. 2003, J. Glaser; 11, Spragueia leo, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co.: Oxon Hill, 11 July 1972, G. F. Hevel; 12, Spragueia leo, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 3 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 13, Amyna axis, m, Texas, Tarrant Co., Fort Worth, 14 Sep. 1962, E. Jackh Jr.; 14, Amyna axis, f, Texas, Cameron Co.: Brownsville, 27 Oct. 1970, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 15, Amyna axis, f, Texas, La Salle Co.: Artesia Wells, 11 Nov. 1971, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 16, Argillophora furcilla, m, Florida, Alachua Co.: Gainesville, hardwood hammock, 25 May 1972, E. C. Knudson.