Noctuidae - Acontiinae

 

 

 

Pomonetia dorneri (Barnes and McDunnough)

Tarache dorneri Barnes and McDunnough, 1913, Contr. Nat. Hist. Lepid. N. Am., 2(3):117, pl. 4, figs. 8,9.

Diagnosis: The basal half of the forewing is pure white. A dark brown, roughly s-shaped mark occupies the outher half of the wing. This mark begins at the outer third of the inner margin reaching vertically up to the reniform, takes an outerward righthand turn reaching the fringe. From there is runs vertically to the apex of the forewing. This zig-zag in the mark leaves a large white triangle reaching from the outer margin running inward roughly to the position of the subterminal line. The fringe is pure white. The forewing costa has a rectangular spot reaching from the costa, but not quite reaching the reniform. The hindwing is white, but heavily tinged with brown along its inner margin. Wing length from base to apex in one selected individual 9 mm.

Distribution: (Based only on specimens in the USNM). Ponometia dornerii is known only from extreme southeastern Texas and from the western parts of the state. It undoubtedly also occurs in northern Mexico.

Identification Quality: Good

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Distribution map based on specimens in the USNM

 

Ponometia dorneri

The dark marking of the forewing outer half is s-shaped in Ponometia dorneri and black-brown. The dark marking in the outer halves of the forewings in cuta and heonyx are quadrate, more extensive, not s-shaped, and light brown.

Similar Species

Ponometia cuta

Ponometia heonyx