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Leucania pseudargyria is the usually the easiest of the four species to recognize because of its larger size and the red tint to the forewings usually (but not always) present.
Males of Leucania inermis are easily recognized by the absence of a tuft of long hairs on the prothoracic tibia. This tuft of hairs is present in the other three species. Leucania inermis tends to be slightly larger on the average than ursula and both species are always gray without the red tints present in the larger pseudargyia. The discal dot in the reniform of calidior is strong, but too few species of this species are known to make sweeping statements about its superficial appearance. Females of inermis and ursula are usually best identified by their association with males.
Males of Leucania inermis are easily recognized by the absence of a tuft of long hairs on the prothoracic tibia. This tuft of hairs is present in the other three species. Leucania inermis tends to be slightly larger on the average than ursula and both species are always gray without the red tints present in the larger pseudargyia. The discal dot in the reniform of calidior is strong, but too few species of this species are known to make sweeping statements about its superficial appearance. Females of inermis and ursula are usually best identified by their association with males. Leucania inermis (Forbes)
Diagnosis: Forewing gray. Expanse about 35 mm. from wing tip to wing tip. Reniform present as a vague, pale spot with a distinct dark discal dot. Orbicular absent. Postmedial and antemedial lines present, although irregular and not prominent. Hindwing heavily suffused with gray-brown. Male prothoracic tibia without a large, massive tuft of hair. Distribution: A species of the northeast and midatlantic states from Nova Scotia in the north to South Carolina in the south. The species is known from as far west as western Pennsylvania and western North Carolina. Identification Quality: Excellent
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Leucania inermis
Similar Species: The four species of this species complex cannot be identified with certainty except by dissecting the male genitalia. Leucania pseudargyria Leucania ursula Leucania calidior
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Similar Species
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