Peridroma saucia (Hübner) Variegated Cutworm Moth

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 17-18

5. Peridroma saucia (Hübner) Variegated Cutworm Moth (adult), Variegated Cutworm (larva)

( Figs. 6–7, Map 4)

Identification: Forewing length 20.0–23.0 mm. Peridroma saucia has a general mottled look and is variable in the prominence of the forewing pattern typical of noctuids.

The forewing color is variable and includes dark grayish­brown, reddish­brown, and a lighter pale yellowish­gray. Orbicular spot is more prominent than the reniform spot. The lines making up the forewing pattern are either faint or represented only by spots on the costa. Hindwing has a white pearly sheen overlain with gray on the costa, outer margin, and wing veins; fringe is shiny white.

Flight period: Collected from March to September.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob E of house field, Purchase Knob N of house forest, Purchase Knob NE of house field; Swain Co., Big Cove Road site p, Big Cove Road site w, 3.3 mi NE of Clingman’s Dome Parking Lot Fork Ridge Trail, 15.2 mi NE GSMNP entrance on Rt. 441 Deep Creek Trail, Smokemont . Tennessee: Blount Co., Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church, Gregory Bald ; Cocke Co. , vicinity Cosby ATBI house, Cosby Campground,vicinity of Trailhead, Foothills Parkway East, Snakeden Ridge ATBI Plot; Sevier Co. , Brushy Mountain ATBI Plot. (34 specimens)

Elevation range: 1800–5780 ft. (549–1762 m).

General distribution: Peridroma saucia is worldwide in distribution. In the Western Hemisphere it has been found from tree line in Canada to Chile and Argentina. In the Old World it is widely distributed in Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and the Middle East; there have been reported isolated occurrences in Sri Lanka, China, Japan, and Taiwan. It also occurs on midoceanic islands such as Bermuda and Iceland in the North Atlantic and Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic as well as Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific ( Lafontaine 2004).

Larval hosts: This is a polyphagous species and is considered a serious agricultural pest. The larvae inflict significant damage to cultivated crops owing to their preference for feeding on flowers and developing fruit. More than 130 species of plants have been reported as larval hosts. Some of the more significantly damaged crops include alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae ), beets ( Beta sp. , Chenopodiaceae ), cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L., Brassicaceae ), cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea L., Brassicaceae ), globe artichoke ( Cynara scolymus L., Asteraceae ), lettuce ( Lactuca sp. Asteraceae ), peppers ( Capsicum sp. Solanaceae ), potato ( Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae ), tobacco (Nicotania sp., Solanaceae ), and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae ) ( Lafontaine 2004).

MAP 4. Collecting localities of Peridroma saucia .