Noctuidae - Acontiinae

 

 

 

Ponometia binocula (Grote), NEW COMBINATION

Tarache binocula Grote, 1875, Canad. Ent., 7:224.

Diagnosis: The basal half of the forewing is pure white. The darker markings of the outer half of the forewing are yellow-green or olive in color. There is a small, weak, quadrate yellow-green patch between the costa and the basal side of the reniform. The dark marking is primarily olive, but shaded with yellow-green along the inner side of the postmedial line. The subterminal line is a fine, squiggely, white line. The terminal line is at most a series of vague, light gray blotches. The fringe is white. The hindwing is almost all pure white except for dark scales at its apex. The costa of the valve of the male genitalia has a small, triangular projection. Wing length from base to apex in one selected individual 11 mm.

Distribution: (Based only specimens in the USNM). Ponometia binocula is a species primary of the midwest. The species reaches from Ohio in the east to Colorado in the west and southern Canada in the north, southward to Oklahoma. A single specimen has been collection in southeastern British Columbia

Identification Quality: Good

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Distribution map based on specimens in the USNM

Ponometia binocula

The dark markings of the forewing of Ponometia candefacta have a darker brownish-gray coloration, and the fringe has both dark and light patches.

Ponometia huita is similar in coloration and maculation. However, there are a pair of distinct, light gray triangles in the olive green dark patch of the forewing, not a fine, squiggely white line.

Ponometia viginalis is easy to separate from candefacta, binocula, and huita by the slight yellowish tint of the white basal half of the forewing, i.e. the basal half of the forwewing is not pure white.

Similar Species

Ponometia candefacta

Ponometia huita

Ponometia virginalis