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Nomophila nearctica

801365.00 — 5156 — Nomophila nearctica Munroe, 1973 — Lucerne Moth

Larval Host(s)

Presumed main host
on Block Island:

Known hosts:
Migratory

Polyphagous (herbaceous plants)

Remarks

Part of a global species complex formerly all considered Nomophila noctuella.

Life History

Munore (1973) reported that the species is migratory in much of its North American range. Ellis (1925) found in a rearing study that this species is bivoltine in New England, with a first generation of adults emerging in late May and a second in July. On Block Island, adults are seen at lights mainly in August and September; iNaturalist data support the same pattern, a long flight period with peak abundance in August, from southern Canada to Maryland. Farther south, the first generation is more prominent at lights; peaks in abundace are in April and September around Dallas. Associated with open habitats on Block Island.

References

  • Species Page at Moth Photographers Group
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
  • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 23.30f; p. 179. Book Review and ordering
  • Species Page at BugGuide
  • Species page at Moths of North Dakota.
  • Ellis, W. O., 1925. Some lepidopterous larvae resembling the European corn borer. J. Agric. Res. 8: 777–792.
  • Munroe, E., 1973. A supposedly cosmopolitan insect: the celery webworm and allies, genus Nomophila Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Pyraustinae). The Canadian Entomologist 105(2): 177-216.

    • Adult phenology on Block Island of Nomophila nearctica

    Abundance data late May to early October