Morrisonia evicta (Grote) Bicolored Woodgrain

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 16-17

6. Morrisonia evicta (Grote) Bicolored Woodgrain

( Figs. 10–13 , Map 7)

Identification: Forewing length 14–18 mm. The overall coloration of the forewing is gray with reddishbrown overtones. The lower half of the forewing can be completely black ( Fig. 10 ) to a variable amount of black ( Figs. 11–12 ) to lacking any black ( Fig. 13 ). The orbicular and reniform spots are contiguous with reddish-brown to black centers and partially outlined with white. Veins are variably highlighted with black. Base of hindwing dirty white, rest of wing suffused with gray becoming darkest along outer margin.

Flight period: Late April.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob NW of house; Swain Co., Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site p . Tennessee: Sevier Co., Park Headquarters. (8 specimens)

MAP 7. Collecting localities of Morrisonia evicta .

Elevation range: 2040–2120 ft. (622–646 m) General distribution: A widespread eastern and midwestern species distributed from Nova Scotia and Manitoba in Canada, and in the U.S. from Maine south to Florida, throughout the Midwest from Michigan west to Missouri, South Dakota, and Colorado.

Larval hosts: Godfrey (1972) borrowed larvae from the Canadian National Collection that were reared on wild cherry ( Prunus sp , Rosaceae ). The record for chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana L.) is not a natural host plant, but eggs were obtained from the female moth and the larvae were able to complete development on this plant.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Adults. 9, Morrisonia confusa, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Seneca, Sycamore Landing, 21 Apr.