|
    |
|
|
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 ursula (Forbes)
Diagnosis: Forewing gray-brown. Expanse about 30 mm. from wing tip to wing tip. Reniform a large, pale kidney-shaped spot with a distinct dark discal spot. Orbicular absent. Antemedial and postmedial lines present, although irregular and not prominent. Hindwing heavily suffused with dark gray-brown. Male prothoracic tibia with a large tuft of hairs. Distribution: Leucania ursula is widely distributed in the northeastern and north-central United States from southern New England in the north to the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in the south. The species reaches eastern North Dakota and Kansas in the west. Identification Quality: Excellent
|
Leucania ursula
Similar Species: Leucania pseudargyria Leucania inermis Leucania calidior
The four species of this species complex (pseudargyria, ursula, inermis, and calidior) cannot be identified with certainty except by dissecting the male genitalia. |
Similar Species
|
 |
