Xestia dolosa Franclemont, 1980

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 59-60

26. Xestia dolosa Franclemont

( Figs. 67, 82 , Map 43)

Identification: Forewing length 18.0–24.0 mm. Xestia c­nigrum and X. dolosa are an easily recognized species group, but separating the two species is difficult as discussed under X. c­nigrum. Forewing ground color is reddish brown in males and dark gray in females. Orbicular spot is large, triangular, and cream colored that extends to costa, and contrasts with the black patch in the discal cell that extends from antemedial line to reniform spot. Reniform spot is reddish brown in apico­proximal quadrant with the remainder gray in both sexes. There is a small black patch at the apex of the subterminal line. The terminal area in the male is gray and contrasts with the forewing ground color, this area is concolorous with the forewing ground color in the female. Hindwing is dirty white with gray shading along the outer margin in the male and is a more uniform gray in the female.

Flight period: Collected from April to October.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Polls Gap Hemphill Bald Trail, Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob E of house field, Purchase Knob E of house forest, Purchase Knob N of house forest, Purchase Knob NE of house field, Purchase Knob nr. 1 st gate, Purchase Knob on road in meadow, Purchase Knob 0.5 mi N of gate, Cataloochee NW of Palmer Chapel, Cataloochee just off paved road toward Cosby; Swain Co. , Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site c, Big Cove Road site p, Big Cove Road site w, 3 mi N Clingman’s Dome, 5 mi N Clingman’s Dome, 1.2 mi NE Clingman’s Dome parking lot Noland Divide Trail, 3.3 mi NE Clingman’s Dome parking lot Fork Ridge Trail, Deep Creek Ranger Station , Indian Gap Clingman’s Dome Rd. , 5.6 mi SW of Jct. 441 & Clingman’s Dome Rd. Noland Divide Trail, Mt. Buckley , Oconaluftee River Smokemont Rd. , Ravensford, Smokemont . Tennessee: Blount Co., Ace Gap Trailhead, Cades Cove, Campsite 6, Cades Cove near Ranger Station, Foothill Parkway West at Little River , Gregory Bald, Gregory Cave , Tremont; Cocke Co. , Foothills Parkway, Foothills Parkway East, Foothills Parkway N at 1 st overlook, Foothills Parkway N 4.5 mi from Hwy. 321; Sevier Co. , Greenbrier Ranger Station , Jake’s Creek Trail Campsite 27, 6 mi S Sugarlands Visitor Center. (101 specimens)

. Elevation range: 1000–6560 ft. (305–1999 m)

General distribution: This is an eastern North American species ranging from Nova Scotia to Manitoba across southern Canada and in the United States from Maine to northern Florida west to North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and eastern Texas ( Lafontaine 1998) .

Larval hosts: Xestia dolosa is associated with rich deciduous forests; Rings et al. (1992) listed maple ( Acer sp. , Aceraceae ) as a probable host.

MAP 43. Collecting localities of Xestia dolosa .

Figures

FIGURES 79–82. Genitalia. 79, Abagrotis cupida, m, New York, genitalia slide USNM 46289; 80, Abagrotis magnicupida, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 17 July 1975, D.C. Ferguson, genitalia slide USNM 46279; 81, Xestia c­nigrum, f, Utah, Utah Co., Provo, 17 Aug. 1908, T. Spalding, genitalia slide USNM 49706; 82, Xestia dolosa, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Greenbrier Ranger Station, 20 May 2001, J. Brown, USNMENT 00153558, genitalia slide USNM 49701.